KHACHATURIAN, Aram
Concerto for cello and orchestra in E minor (reduction for cello and piano)
I. Allegro moderato
Torleif Thedéen, visiting professor
Willard Carter, student
Ofelia Montalván, accompanying pianist
Professor Thedéen congratulates the student on his interpretation and sound quality. He then suggests that he visualize the main entrance before starting to play. When we have identical phrases, they should not be repeated in the same way, but rather it is desirable to create a long period of phrasing. Later, Thedéen talks about vibrato: different fragments require different types of vibrato, one should not always use the same one.
Regarding the tempo, it is possible to lengthen it only a little at certain moments, even if a fixed and solid pulse is maintained. He also suggests that it should be shown that something is going to happen, to create expectation.
The melancholic character loses its essence in some way if it is taken so slowly because it is not an excessively dense and profound material, that is why a greater sense of flow is necessary and always think in long phrases. In the position changes, sufficient time is required to make the vibrato.
Professor and student talk about fingerings and the most suitable fingers to use at each moment, especially when choosing between the second and third fingers. Thedéen emphasizes the importance of legato in several phrases, it is even possible to do a little fast, imperceptible glissando. Synchronization with the bow is crucial to achieve a good legato.
The changes of character should stand out more with the help of the bow. The professor also mentions that it is important to find some feeling or sensation that helps us to build and express the structure of the work. It is advisable for the student to investigate how the piece would sound if he played with “worse taste”, in the sense of obtaining another different original vision -in reference to this idea, the professor names the cellist Shafran-. In general, there has to be much more variety of colors because everything sounds too similar.
Language: English
