Julian! My childhood hero! It's the 1980s I am in primary school and I saw julian play! Thought wow! Had my first cello at 9 years just landed on British soil as a child of migrant parents! 😍 fell in love with my cello at first sight!
The despair of the restraint of pathos gives a subtle beauty to his interpretation, when its explodes and return with more dispair than ever - but still repressed...The best performance of this piece in my opinion
2003, I was living in Hong Kong at the time. Out of nowhere, a mysterious disease was killing people in a random fashion, among whom were doctors and caregivers. Everyone was scared. You could die from visiting a supermarket. Restaurants were deserted and shops were having 80% sales to attract customers. We were in the dark. The World Health Organisation was frantically looking for answers. We were told not to travel as the disease was spreading by plane also. I had season's tickets to the HK Philharmonic, including the upcoming concert with Julian Lloyd-Webber. All performers scheduled to visit HK (that's a lot of them) cancelled their performances, so I was prepared to get a refund for the JLW concert. Who wanted to risk their lives by visiting the city? We couldn't blame them for not wanting to set foot there. We didn't even want to be there! What do you know? JLW confirmed he was NOT going to cancel. What a shock! Did he want to become a statistic? Well, that night, he performed the Elgar AND met the fans afterwards for autographs! Talk about living dangerously. This guy had no fear. Later, of course, the disease was given a name - SARS. As you watch this, just remember that Mr Lloyd-Webber is not just any musician. He dares to go where others fear to tread. He proved it. Surely that rare breed of authenticity is reflected in the music. I salute you, Mr Lloyd-Webber!
Julian is as good as the best of them; he plays with acute sensitivity and feel for the music, a reverence, great beauty too, often, almost understatement, which gives an added strength and allure, even a sense of vulnerability,which heightens admiration for his remarkable talent and skill.
Just noticed that Yehudi Menuhin is conducting! Tis a small world! My lovely father used to be great friends with both Yehudi and Stephane Grappelli. The three played together a lot! This really is heavenly and I could listen to it over and over again! Wonderful piece such beautiful playing! Such a wonderful instrument the cello! Loved playing! Alas, I struggled so much with reading music that I played every piece I was given by ear! Not very helpful! :)
