April 29, 2011

Next weekend, May 7 and 8, the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra performs the last concert of the season, “The Fabric of America,” with William Schuman’s New England Triptych: Three Pieces for Orchestra after William Billings; Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring: Suite and Lincoln Portrait; and William Perry’s Jamestown, Concerto for Cello and Orchestra.

When Maestro Jung Ho Pak first heard the Jamestown Concerto, he immediately thought of cellist Matt Haimovitz, who is known for his adventurous side and willingness to learn new concerti.

Photo by David Weininger

“I’m always game to work on a new piece,” Haimovitz explained in a recent interview. “I love playing Dvorak, Elgar and Schumann, but every year I need to explore and learn new work. I liked that (Jung Ho Pak) was thinking creatively about the theme of the concert and (the concerto) fit right in. The cello writing was very beautiful, very dramatic – like the story. So I took it on.”

Haimovitz describes the piece as being very accessible. “It’s very tonal and full of Americana elements. I haven’t heard it with orchestra yet – we’re going to put it together on Cape Cod – but the composer has written film scores so it has that cinematic quality – a real narrative that runs through the whole piece. The cello writing is virtuosic. It shows off the instrument in a beautiful, lyric way.”

Matt Haimovitz’s Venetian cello was made by Matteo Gofriller, the choice of legendary cellists Pablo Casals and Janos Starker. Its 300th anniversary was the inspiration for Haimovitz’ latest release, MATTEO 300 Years of an Italian Cello.

Haimovitz made his debut at the age of 13 as a soloist with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic. At 17 he made his first recording with James Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon). He made his Carnegie Hall debut when he substituted for his teacher, Leonard Rose, in Schubert’s String Quintet in C, alongside Isaac Stern, Shlomo Mintz, Pinchas Zukerman and Mstislav Rostropovich.

Haimovitz recently released the critically-acclaimed and Grammy-nominated album Meeting of the Spirits, featuring jazz classics from the 1920s to the 1970s, reconfigured by composer David Sanford and played by Haimovitz and the eight-piece cello ensemble Uccello, with guest artists including guitarist John McLaughlin.

In addition to his appearance on Cape Cod, Haimovitz recently performed at New York’s Bargemusic and Austin’s South by Southwest Festival.

by Susan Blood

View article at Barnstable Patriot