Posted by Charles Brooks on May 12, 1999 at 23:02:33:
In Reply to: Re: I'd better make my original posting clear posted by dgee on May 12, 1999 at 09:10:25:
Re-reading this post I've just realised that there is little or no information on Aldo Parisot here! (unless I've been looking in the wrong place).
: In the United States, the leading teachers who believe in your ideals have been Aldo Parisot, Janos Starker and perhaps a few others. I don't know how much these two are teaching these days. You know, Starker provided the alternative that you speak of for many people going back forty years. This "other" way of playing was always around and I agree that it is now coming back in favor. Your posts are insightful. DG
:
: : However - I believe that, although he is still producing beautiful recordings, the direction that the sound of the cello is moving in has changed somewhat. What may have been new and exciting to the listners of Rostropovich in his hey day is now considered old hat. Although I greatly admire Rostropovich I do not think that his style is improving the sound or status of the cello as a solo instrument. He is the absolute master of an era which I believe to have passed.
: : I realise that Yo yo Ma has learnt a lot from Rostropovich but I belive he has also moved on and expanded upon Rostropovich's approach (doesn't any generation learn and attempt to improve upon the teacings of the past?). I believe the sound of Yoyo Ma and Isserlis (although I realise that they are VERY different players) to be more refined and poetic - a sound that you have to listen to intently to to pick up the nuances rather than one which attempts to throw them at you (although both practices are perfectly relevant I prefer the former). I also believe that in time Yo yo Ma's recordings will be considered old fashioned and that new cellists of a younger generation, who will owe much to this generation, will take that sound and in their own way add to it - perhaps they will "revert" back to the sound of Rostropovich's era or move in a yet unexplored direction - who knows?
: : But for the moment the direction in with I believe Ma and Isserlis are moving is the one I most enjoy listening to and the one that I hope my own playing will aspire to.
: : Also by describing their sound as "clean" I did not mean just "in tune and in time" - I think you will find that Rostropovich is perfectly in tune(!) and in time to his own interpretations of the music. I suppose I meant that a lot of the slides and styles of vibrato etc. used by Rostropovich and his contempoaries have been re-examined and often removed. I simply find this refreshing and wish to know more about how I can apply this kind of methodology to my own playing.
: : I hope I haven't offended anyone and that this clears up my original posting!
: : regards
: : Charles Brooks
: :
: : : To the original poster- have you ever heard Piatigorsky, Casals, Feuermann or other cellists of this era?