Free to write what he wanted, Moya drew on the personal ties that he has to Weilerstein through the conductor Rafael Payare, her husband. Business. Everyone brings their perspective and insight into what the composer actually meant. Video by John Francis Mito Habe-Evans/NPR This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Alisa Weilerstein - Biography - IMDb For Shaw, that was part of the attraction of Fragments, beyond the obvious appeal of writing for a soloist whose visible commitment expresses such a clear love of music. fill: #000; Alisa Weilerstein - New York Philharmonic Alisa Weilerstein is a young cellist whose emotionally resonant performances of both traditional and contemporary music have earned her international recognition. March 24, 2023 When the cellist Alisa Weilerstein found herself cooped up with her family at the start of the pandemic, her first instinct, like that of so many classical She lives with her husband, Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare, and their two young children. Its filled with really, really good information. What did she as a violin teacher have to offer you? She will perform a Bach suite in its entirety, and she will play it with her typical, heartfelt passion. Alisa Weilerstein: Fragments | Apr 1, 2023 in NYC | Carnegie Hall FC: Was it hard playing at home for your dad - this world-famous violinist - when you were just learning how to play the cello? This site uses cookies to offer you the best possible experience. It gives you a totally new tool. We also use third party cookies which help us analyze and understand how you use this website. With contemporary music, theres so much context put around it even before weve heard anything.. Who are any of us next to Mozart? Youre playing these well-known, exacting pieces of music. Alisa Weilersteins new project, Fragments, comes to Zankel Hall on April 1. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010. Cello virtuoso Alisa Weilerstein is always at the head of her class. Alisa Weilerstein is an American cellist who started playing the cello at a young age. Webby James Manheim. She knew exactly what to do and what not to do with a young person. I do think, though, that we clearly have a problem, that we are not connecting with enough people, and that we are relying too much on our old models of presenting, especially when it comes to new music.. I also always enjoyed playing for non-cellists in addition to cellists, because I always found they gave me great perspective and I grew up practicing with my father who was a great violinist, of course, and I was quite used to that. Her Sarabandes are extraordinary, very slow (a lot of the high time total is racked up here) without being emotionally overwrought: they are deeply meditative. Saturday and Sunday: from 2 hours before the concert starts until 30 minutes after the concert starts Because its hard enough, even when you love it. hide caption. Playing the cello actually takes tremendous upper body strength. Learn all about Alisa Weilerstein on AllMusic. The work was co-commissioned with the Detroit Symphony; the Cleveland Orchestra, where Weilerstein performed it last fall; and the National Symphony, where she reprised it in May. We all had a lot of time to think about what it means to really connect with an audience, what it means to connect with each other, and an appreciation for being in one communal space.. AW: Well he was just my dad to me, I mean, he wasn't this world famous violinist. For aspiring classical musicians, what kind of advice can you offer other than practice, practice, practice? The goal is always to know these scores better, to truly live with the great masterworkslike the Bach Suites, for example. She was awarded the MacArthur genius grant in 2011. Jamie Jung When youre playing with someone new, do differences in interpretation ever cause problems? Known for her consummate artistry, emotional investment and rare interpretive depth, she was recognized with a MacArthur genius grant Fellowship in 2011. Im still going to always try to improve as an artist and to be a more insightful interpreter. California. Pentatone's sound is a bit too close but catches the intensity and the controlled spontaneity of these readings. I never liked that word. Alisa Weilerstein - Wikipedia Ive been looking forward to working with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra because they dont play like a typical orchestra with a conductor at the head, in which case you just follow the conductors beat. Luckily, I didnt ever have that fear. Human beings are far more complex. Born in New York to a violinist father and pianist mother, she grew up and eventually formed the Weilerstein Trio with her parents. Elina will 1900 S. Norfolk St., Suite 350, San Mateo, CA 94403 There was a temptation to write something really virtuosic, really out there, really avant-garde, said Reinaldo Moya, one of the more junior composers in Weilersteins group, because youre not going to have the chance to work with a soloist of that caliber every time. Weilerstein did set some rules. Law Office of Gretchen J. Kenney is dedicated to offering families and individuals in the Bay Area of San Francisco, California, excellent legal services in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning, including Long-Term Care Planning, Probate/Trust Administration, and Conservatorships from our San Mateo, California office. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. She started playing the cello at age four. Come that November, Weilerstein had put her cello away, and she was taking long walks on the beaches near her home in San Diego instead of practicing. For cellist Alisa Weilerstein as for all of us life in 2021 involves a lot of rescheduling. To keep growing with them. People might assume that a talent like yours must have been fostered at the expense of everything else. Adagio (Con gran espressione) 12:35 3. Do you even remember the first time you were here? These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your consent. It gives you a totally new tool. clip-path:url(#SVGID_2_); Alisa Weilerstein (Cello) - Short Biography - Bach Cantatas Website The other goal that I have is to try to help create a twenty-first century repertoire for the cello, much in the way that Rostropovich did in the twentieth century. The Prelude of the Cello Suite No. These cookies do not store any personal information. } 1 888 842-9951. If theres a piece that Ive been playing over and over again, its very helpful to put it away for a while. Alisa Weilerstein | Opus 3 Artists From Astro to Wadada Leo Smith, Fiona Apple to Frank Ocean, here are 50 albums that made 2012 great. But I wanted to go with my gut, and relate my work to something that might connect with her on that level, not a technical or a composer-y level.. I want to keep fostering relationships with composers, help expand our repertoire, and create a cornerstones of twenty-first century repertoire. She mentioned that her first cello was a cereal box with a chopstick for a bow! like. WebAlisa Weilerstein is one of the foremost cellists of our time. There is no end point. Some did, she said, and some very much did not.. I thought the connotations of being considered a prodigy implied living a very different life than the one I lived. Her repertory is wide but has been marked by a focus on contemporary music. hide caption. Her Alisa Weilerstein is one of the foremost cellists of our time. hide caption. Box-Office Hours How do you nourish your creative life when youre not working? She lives with her husband, Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare, and their young child. Now, the youngest Weilerstein's profile as a soloist is being kicked into high gear. Since Alisa Weilerstein was just 6, the three have performed together around the globe as the Weilerstein Trio. Weilerstein avoids the dance rhythms for the most part, but sometimes, when they serve her purposes, they show up, and the surfaces are strikingly variegated. After premiering the first two chapters in Toronto in early 2023, with subsequent performances at New Yorks Carnegie Hall and beyond, she looks forward to touring all six chapters in seasons to come. hide caption. Hes a great inspiration for me in that sense. William Struhs For her though, Fragments is an attempt to make the concert hall more of a place of adventure again, and less of a dead end. For example, Im about to play the Elgar concerto with the National Symphony in Russia. Jamie Jung Allegro molto vivace 11:54 Golijov: Omaramor For Solo Cello 8:14 Alisa Weilerstein (cello) Recorded: 2012-10-14 Recording Venue: Teldex Studio, Berlin Theyre chamber music players, which means that theyre listening to each other individually. I got management early on. Its a balance we have to strive forto protect what the composer intended, yet keep the music alive so it doesnt become a museum piece, or simply an archive. You have to have a willingness to collaborate. But if both of us are open to different orientations or interpretations, that can yield a really interesting interpretation and performance. hide caption. Her discography also includes chart-topping albums and the winner ofBBC Musics Recording of the Year award. Those were the kind of stories you heard. WEILERSTEIN HAS NEVER had the reputation of being a new-music specialist, but she has given her fair share of premieres, and few of her colleagues on the international circuit can list anything so bold as her recording of Elliott Carters Cello Concerto on their discographies. Alisa Weilerstein always knew that she wanted to be a cellist. Group Sales Request View Seating Chart (PDF) The trio currently resides at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Her brother is the violinist and conductor Joshua Weilerstein (born in 1987). She is married to Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare. [5] Weilerstein has received a number of honors. As Artistic Partner of the Trondheim Soloists, she regularly tours and records with the Norwegian orchestra. There will be limited program notes in advance, little to guide listeners except their ears and eyes through a collagelike narrative arc assembled from musical fragments. The range of interpretive choices facing performers of Bach's Suites for solo cello, BWV 1007-1012, is vast. Cellist Alisa Weilerstein announces pregnancy | News | The Strad Weilersteins cello is her id. I realized that what he was telling me was very valuable. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. To everyones credit, I think, everyone is wrestling with this issue, Weilerstein said in a recent interview from Toronto. Law Firm Website Design by Law Promo, What Clients Say About Working With Gretchen Kenney. Alisa Weilerstein The perspective gives you something. All Rights Reserved. He was the muse for Shostakovich and Prokofiev, and he premiered over a thousand works over the course of his lifetime. Its very hard to write anything for solo cello and not have some subconscious relationship to Bach.. Cellist Alisa Weilerstein Talks Carnegie Hall WWD 15 Of The Greatest And Most Famous Cello Players Of All Time You also have to deal with the traveling, which is very tough on the body. And I played in master classes for Zara Nelsovanand for Lynn Harrell. I certainly didnt want that and no one around me wanted that for me. Thats something that Im really trying to do. December 22, 2012 The albums that sum up our year span genres and borders. May 22, 2022 6 AM PT Balancing an infant with a whirlwind career as one of classical musics most in-demand cellists comes easily for Alisa Weilerstein. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Its not about expressing the performers personality, but that inevitably happens. She will be there, playing solo. June 16, 2010 Musicians at the 2010 Spoleto Festival U.S.A. bring out the "Gypsy" in Haydn and Brahms. I was interested in other things. She left the choice up to them. WebMini Bio (1) Alisa Weilerstein is known for If I Stay (2014), P.O.V. May 27, 2011 A consummate artist even before she was out of her teens, 29-year-old Alisa Weilerstein has already been granted extraordinary opportunities, from Alisa Weilerstein Gerardo Antonio Sanchez Torres/courtesy of the artist Law Office of Gretchen J. Kenney. The goal is always to know these scores better, to truly, The Creative Independent is ad-free and published by, Master Class (esk filharmonie / Czech Philharmonic), Rachmaninovs Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor. I think its a fantastic resource, and he writes so beautifully. Alisa Weilerstein is one of the foremost cellists of our time. In general, Weilerstein's approach is deliberate and detailed, more reminiscent of Mstislav Rostropovich than of the members of her own family with whom she plays chamber music. If there's such a thing as cello mojo, Alisa Weilerstein has it. I tend to say yes too often, but Im trying to get better at that. Shes collaborated with many artists over the years and performed at well-known venues and schools all over the world, as well as being a solo cellist. Violinist Livia Sohn, pianist Inon Barnatan, cellist Alisa Weilerstein and violist Barry Shiffman (not pictured) dig into the the Gypsy-influenced Piano Quartet, Op. Jamie Jung/Courtesy of the artist She asked that the new pieces be about 10 minutes long, and that they come in two or three fragments that she could intersperse with other scores without violating the meaning of the music. I havent played the Elgar in a long time. Then you come back to it with a new and fresh perspective. When she finally forced herself to play again, she found herself staring out of the window, wondering what her field might look like when, or if, performers returned to the stage. Weilerstein and Jason Yoder ( marimba) perform Camille Saint-Sans 's "Le cygne" (The Swan) from The Carnival of the Animals at the White House Evening of Classical Music (November 2009) Problems playing these files? See media help. Alisa Weilerstein (born April 14, 1982) is an American classical cellist. She was named a 2011 MacArthur Fellow. [1] He had this incredible way of distancing himself when we were working together, so it never felt like I was, sort of, battling a parent. Veterans Pension Benefits (Aid & Attendance). I am traveling almost all the time. She is an ardent champion of contemporary music, and has premiered and championed important new works by composers including Pascal Dusapin, Osvaldo Golijov and Matthias Pintscher. I live with his music all the time, I love it deeply, Shaw said, adding that the second book of The Well-Tempered Clavier has been her soundtrack for the past year. For reasons she cant explain, she was instantly attracted to the instrument as a small child. Alisa Weilerstein on What It Means to Be a Classical Musician Gerardo Antonio Sanchez Torres/courtesy of the artist, Alisa Weilerstein Plays Elgar: Exploring Music With An Intense Past, Young Cellist With An Old Soul Plays Elgar, Elliott Carter, Alisa Weilerstein: Playing Bach With The Fishes, Around The Classical Internet: September 23, 2011, Cellist Alisa Weilerstein Among MacArthur Grant Winners, Alisa Weilerstein: From Bach To The Backstreets Of Buenos Aires, Band Of Gypsies: Haydn And Brahms At Spoleto Festival, Alisa Weilerstein: The Art Of Chopin's Cello. Alisa Weilerstein (Cello) Born: April 18, 1982 - Rochester, New York, USA The American cellist, Alisa Weilerstein, was born into a musical family: she is the She and the cello seem simply to be one and the same, agrees the Los Angeles Times. He was Dad (laughs). Even when I was a very, sort of, unruly teenager, I still realized what he was telling me was good, so I took it (laughs). Having scoured the internet to survey the new-music scene, and consulted with past collaborators including Osvaldo Golijov and Matthias Pintscher, Weilerstein invited 28 composers to participate. What do you think of as being the most important creative resources for doing what you do? I think of Mozart as a true prodigy. Since making her professional and Carnegie Hall debuts in her early teens, she has been in high demand as a solo She spoke to Scott Simon from the Spoleto Festival USA, where she'll be performing through June 12. Alisa Weilerstein Its a constant challenge, too. February 16, 2012 Positioned above a tank full of stingrays at the National Aquarium, Weilerstein used her cello to serenade sea creatures (and many pleasantly surprised visitors) with music by Johann Sebastian Bach. Alisa Weilerstein : NPR You have to be in good shape to play the instrument well. In general, Weilerstein's approach is deliberate and detailed, more reminiscent of Mstislav Rostropovich than of the members of her own family with whom she plays chamber music. But he had this remarkable - actually both my parents did, but especially my father because I worked more intensely with him between the time I was 9 and 15. Alisa Weilerstein and Inon Barnatan House (1988) and When Alisa Met Elliott (2012). A Cellist Breaks Music Into Fragments, Then Connects Them Its like the E.M. Forster phrase, only connect, Weilerstein explained. Just making sure to get enough sleep, and to have enough space in between engagements, those are things Im not too good at. Carlos Kleibers live recording of Brahms 2nd Symphony reminds me of what utter joy and inspiration sounds (and looks!) Cecilia BartoliI love virtually everything she does. People might not realize that the further you go in this business, the more travel is absolutely a part of the job description. AllMusic relies heavily on JavaScript. WebExplore Alisa Weilerstein's discography including top tracks, albums, and reviews. Alisa Weilerstein is an American classical cellist who began performing professionally at the age of 13. This is the philosophy behind the project, fundamentally: connecting the pieces, connecting the voices of our time together, connecting the familiar and the new, connecting this music with the audience without the barrier of so much contextualization, categorization, bias, all of these things., And connecting, she added, our contemporary world with the concert format. Hablas espaol? Jamie Jung For the first chapter of Alisa Weilerstein s groundbreaking project for solo cello, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall, J. S. Bachs First Cello Suite is woven together with new works, responsive lighting, and scenic architecture, inviting audiences into an immersive, multisensory experience. Since making her professional and Carnegie Hall debuts in her early teens, she has been in high demand as a solo recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist with leading orchestras worldwide. Her father, Donald, was the longtime first violinist with the fine Cleveland Quartet, and her mother, Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, is an equally well-regarded pianist. I know many people who say, I got inspired by such-and-such conductor when my school took me on a field trip to hear a concert, or such-and-such musician came to my school, and then I knew I loved classical music. The goal is not necessarily that theyll all become musicians, but just that this music will be part of their lives. You can also deactivate these cookies. September 17, 2010 The young cellist plays Bach with elegance, and takes us through the backstreets of Buenos Aires with a gripping performance of Omaramor, Osvaldo Golijov's tribute to tango singer Carlos Gardel. I also have a young daughter, who is 11 months old. Alisa Weilerstein - Orchestre symphonique de Montral Since Alisa Weilerstein was just 6, the three have performed together around the globe as the Weilerstein Trio. She doesnt give the impression that making music involves will at all. This means people can now refer to you as a genius in an official capacity. Alisa Weilerstein - MacArthur Foundation So you budget accordingly. Food. Certain aspects of it may be familiar. I count myself incredibly lucky in that respector maybe I was just very stupid, I dont knowthat I wasnt afraid to be in front of people. Alisa Weilerstein So that was a very important thing. Weilerstein was born in Rochester, New York. to a secular Jewish family. She started playing the cello at age four. She made her debut at age 13 with the Cleveland Orchestra playing Tchaikovsky 's Variations on a Rococo Theme. As a soloist she has performed with a number of other major orchestras on four continents. For details on how we use cookies, see our. As a soloist she has performed with a number of other major orchestras on four continents. Phone: 650-931-2505 | Fax: 650-931-2506 Alisa Weilerstein | The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Weilerstein was born in Rochester, New York, on April 14, 1982. Oh, baby! Cellist Alisa Weilerstein gives birth to a daughter and a November 6, 2012 Hear an excerpt of MacArthur "genius" cellist Alisa Weilerstein's excellent pairing of the Elgar Cello Concerto recorded with Daniel Barenboim, whose late wife Jacqueline Du Pre's name was synonymous with this piece and the cello concerto by Elliott Carter, who died yesterday at 103. To shed the Rorschach inclination towards finding meaning in the program before hearing the music was a really important piece of the puzzle, Pulitzer said. May 27, 2011 A consummate artist even before she was out of her teens, 29-year-old Alisa Weilerstein has already been granted extraordinary opportunities, from playing for President Obama to taking on an iconic musical assignment. I have played it countless times, but there was actually a long period of time where I was not playing it, maybe five or six months. Alisa Weilerstein - IMDb | Disclaimer | Sitemap We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Nobody would say otherwise, but I try not to pay too much attention to that. to a secular Jewish family. Literally. The Law Office of Gretchen J. Kenney assists clients with Elder Law, including Long-Term Care Planning for Medi-Cal and Veterans Pension (Aid & Attendance) Benefits, Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, and Conservatorships in the San Francisco Bay Area. Music is about communication. My management was very careful to get me as much experience as I needed without overexposing me or taking over my life. For me, it didnt matter whether I was playing in front of people or not. .st0{ Its familiar, theres such a child-like purity to it, says Weilerstein. She has evidently thought hard about how contemporary composers can be given a fairer chance to break through to audiences, especially to those people for whom contemporary art, say, is an easier ask. April 19, 2017 - Alisa Weilerstein is an American classical cellist who began performing professionally at the age of 13. Im always juggling a lot of repertoire at the same time, which requires a lot of rehearsal. Well, something that Im trying to do more of is simply being mindful to get enough exercise and to do good stretches. Fresh, moving, timeless, and some of the most beautiful writing I can think of. Alisa Weilerstein Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More | AllMusic To be included with these amazing people, that, for me, was the biggest honor. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at nine years old, Weilerstein is a staunch advocate for the T1D community. This is, therefore, a Romantic and very exciting set of cello suites. Her discography also includes chart-topping albums and the winner of BBC Musics Recording of the Year award, while other career milestones include a performance at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama. Cellist Alisa Weilerstein. She was recognized with a MacArthur Fellowship in 2011. Climate & Environment. For that reason, the lack of program notes before the lights go dark, the audience will be given only the most basic information about the project, and the names of the composers they will hear is a core part of Fragments, and a sign, its creators said, that, for all the deliberate, thoughtful artifice, the focus is on the music. I was 14 when I went with my manager. Interlude They have one child. In Alisa Weilersteins groundbreaking, multi-year performance series FRAGMENTS, new music by some of the most compelling composers of our time meets A multisensory production for solo cello, the six-chapter series sees her weave together the 36 movements of Bachs solo cello suites with 27 new commissions. Weilerstein wanted for the first thing that listeners hear to be the Prelude from the first Suite. How did you feel about that at the time? Other career milestones include a performance at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama. FC: And you mentioned Dorothy DeLay, who's a legendary violin teacher at Julliard and here in Aspen. The newly renovated Dock Street Theater in Charleston, S.C., plays host to Gypsy-inspired sounds. This is always the subject of debatewhat is the role of the performer? Alisa Weilerstein (cello) Recorded: 2012-10-14 Recording Venue: Teldex Studio, Berlin 1. courtesy of the artist Alisa Weilerstein However, even with a very specific composer like that, there is tremendous room for interpretation. Something I return to every so often is Kunderas The Book of Laughter and Forgetting. For anyone in the classical music world, being able to expose other people to these great works is always something you hope to do. There may be people, Weilerstein admits, who are put off by even a modest staging, or by her tinkering with performance traditions. Meet Fragments, a project whose first installment of six Weilerstein will perform at Zankel Hall on April 1. Weilerstein was born in Rochester, New York, but was raised in Cleveland, graduating from Cleveland Heights High School. For me, the greatest honor of the MacArthur Grant was that its something given not only to musicians, but also to scientists and writers. Concert evenings: noon to 8 p.m. It certainly made things easier to not have that fear, to not have to unload that fear or deal with it. Her brother is also a conductor and violinist. You made your professional debut at the age of 13 and were often referred to as a child prodigy. Image. Alisa Weilerstein is one of the foremost cellists of our time. WebAbout Alisa Weilerstein. I was never subjected to abuse or was made to practice 10 hours a day while locked up. Weilerstein has achieved an impressive set, one that stands apart from the hundreds of others available, yet gives the listener the feeling that she might have done it differently the next day. Is it always about reaching for some higher goal? December 4, 2012 The celebrated young American cellist walks us through her recording of this "devastating" concerto written just after the end of World War I. But Weilerstein thinks of it not as a new approach to Bach, she said, rather a celebration of the really disparate voices in contemporary classical music, with Bach as a common reference point.