The violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and cellist Sol Gabetta, after giving a series of instrument masterclasses, answer students’ questions in an Encounter at the Reina Sofía School of Music where they reflect on and share their experience regarding the interpretation of contemporary music.
Sol Gabetta and Patricia Kopatchinskaja:
Reflections on their experience in contemporary music
After introductory remarks from each professor, they discuss the importance of instrumentalists collaborating with composers on the compositions themselves, and on the compositional process.
They then share reflections on how to approach the interpretation of a contemporary composition.
They answer the question of whether they have ever encountered problems interpreting a contemporary work in a concert hall.
Later, reflections are shared on how to approach an interpretation as well-known as Dvořák’s Cello Concerto.
They also reflect on how to bridge the gap between contemporary music and the general public (who find this music difficult to access because it is not inherently “beautiful”).
Next, the benefits of deeply studying contemporary music are discussed.
Later, they ponder about people who dislike music from the Romantic period onwards, and whether this is because it is music that needs to be heard multiple times since it doesn’t resonate or is understood on first listen.
They also discuss performing original and uncommon interpretations in competitions, and the nature of these evaluations.
Afterwards, reflections are generated about what it means to “understand” a work.
Kopatchinskaja and Gabetta then answer the question of whether one can work on energy to stay fresh, curious, and 100% active every night on stage, or if it is something innate.
Finally, they discuss how to be free on stage, without the feeling of playing automatically after so many hours of study seeking technical perfection, and how to avoid public nervousness.
Language: English
