BY GABRIELLE RUTTICO
Musica Viva is celebrating its 70th birthday in style by inviting cellist Steven Isserlis and pianist Connie Shih to Australia to perform an absolute stunner of a program. As well as this, the busy pair of musicians give masterclasses in Hobart, Melbourne and Perth (if you want to check one out, have a look here). Since they’re so keen to share their knowledge while in the land down under, we asked the inimitable Steven some burning questions about his repertoire, performance mentality, and personal grooming for cellists.
At the University of Western Australia, we have a theory: to be the best cellist you can be, you must have a huge amount of hair. We generally cite you and Mischa Maisky as proof. What are your thoughts on our theory, and do you have any hair care recommendations for cellists?
Yes, it’s a good theory. Trouble is that probably my very favourite cellist of all is Pablo Casals, who was ridiculously bald from a very young age. Most annoying, I know. On the other hand, he smoked a pipe all his life – so maybe that’s an alternative. Re: hair care (I don’t know is Mischa would agree, but I suspect he would), wash frequently, but never allow a comb or brush anywhere near it!
If you could go back in time to your student days and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
Don’t be rude to people just because you don’t want to suck up to them.
You have said that Adés’s piece ‘Lieux Retrouvés’ is one of the hardest pieces you have ever played. How did you practise it?
Yes, probably THE hardest, in some ways. I practise it slowly, I practise it fast, I try to cajole it, I shout at it – and in the end, I try not to panic.
You’re performing a French-inspired program in Australia – what is it about this music that you love so much?
Well, I love all the pieces in this program for different reasons – they’re very different works. But I suppose that they all have a quality of ecstasy to them that appeals to me deeply.
What exactly runs through your head while you are performing, especially in a program like this one?
‘Oh God – I’m going to mess up the next bar’.
To see when Steven Isserlis and Connie Shih’s will visit your city, go to www.musicaviva.com.au.
Image supplied. Credit Keith Saunders.
