Top 7 Cellist Interviews on Living the Classical Life
Cellist Zuill Bailey
Before Living the Classical Life was an award-winning, unique, conversation platform that creates a space for classical music artists to open up and really talk, it was a simple, small YouTube series that was crafted with one mission in mind—to explore the idea of an in-depth look at the talented musicians who make up our modern-day classical music realm.
Now, Living the Classical Life is a non-profit media empire featuring more than 70 episodes of hard-hitting, deep, and inspiring interviews and performances with classical musicians on its site. These episodes don’t just point attention toward the hardworking and gifted musicians of the classical music world we know and love, it also gives them a platform to talk about the things that matter most to them—their causes, their passions, their arts, and more.
Further, this forum-esque conversational platform (which was created and hosted by Zsolt Bognár) goes a long way to provide inspiration for classical musicians around the world, encouraging them to consistently achieve more, create, and find healing through their art.
This week, we’re highlighting the top 7 cellist interviews from Living the Classical Life—Zuill Bailey, Steven Isserlis, Merry Peckham, Joshua Roman, Astrid Schween, Brian Thornton, and Alisa Weilerstein.
Zuill Bailey
Widely considered one of the leading cellists in the world, Zuill Bailey sits down for an interview where he dives into his view on a transcendent and life-changing moment, as well as what it means to him to find both an instrumental and an artistic voice.
Somewhat a jack-of-all-trades, Bailey is recognized as a successful soloist, a chamber musician, a recording artist, a professor, an artistic director, and even a sometimes actor (he’s been seen in roles on HBO’s Oz and NBC’s Homicide). Bailey has been featured with symphony orchestras worldwide, has collaborated with the greatest conductors of modern time, has recorded over 20 albums, and won a 2017 Grammy Award for his live recording of Tales of Hemmingway.
Steven Isserlis
Cellist, musical explorer, and author, Steven Isserlis is known worldwide for his profound musicianship, technical mastery, and his unique personality. Though Isserlis describes himself as somewhat of a late bloomer in his career (“my career didn’t really start to take off until I was thirty. I was by no means a prodigy,” he mentions in this interview), he’s recognized as one of the most distinguished cellists in the world.
Isserlis has several claims to fame—including a CBE in recognition of his services to music and the Schumann Prize of the City of Zwickau. He’s best known as one of the only two living cellists featured in Gramophone’s Hall of Fame.
Cellist Merry Peckham
Merry Peckham
A distinguished, dedicated chamber musician and longtime educator, cellist Merry Peckham has toured extensively throughout the US and abroad, winning several achievements and awards (including the overall string category and the cello division of the National Federation of Music Clubs Competition).
Peckham is the founding member of the acclaimed, award-winning Cavani Quartet, the Directory of the Chamber Music Workshop at the Perlman Music Program, and is the chair of the New England Conservatory chamber music program for both the College and the Preparatory School. In this interview, Peckham dives into how influential—and addictive—chamber music has been in her life.
Cellist Joshua Roman. Photo credit: Ryan Lash / TED
Joshua Roman
Award-winning cellist Joshua Roman, best known for having been dubbed a “classical rock star,” combines his love for cello, composing, and curating to create an international reputation for his wide-ranging repertoire. In addition to being a celebrated performer known for his visionary ways and artistic leadership, Roman was named a TED Senior Fellow in 2015.
In this interview, Roman talks about his life as a musician in terms of travel, competitions, health and injuries, as well as how all of these things fit into mental practice. This episode is special for several reasons—not only was it filmed in Central Park, but it was the first episode Living the Classical Life ever filmed, running at just 8 minutes long.
Cellist Astrid Schween. Photo credit: Steve J Sherman
Astrid Schween
New York-born cellist Astrid Schween—known best for her role as a member of the Juilliard Quartet and member of the Juilliard School faculty—is internationally recognized for her talent as a soloist, a chamber musician, and a teacher. Acclaimed for her wide-ranging performances on stages across the globe, Schween is a consistently in-demand cellist for some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras.
Schween, also an active juror and panelist, speaks in this interview about how to cultivate a voice as a solo artist and individual, finding joy on stage (and balancing that with ease), as well as her unique experiences and recollections of Mstislav Rostropovich and Jacqueline du Pré.
Cellist Brian Thornton
Brian Thornton
Known best for his continued work with The Cleveland Orchestra (he’s been a part of their cello section for nearly 17 years), Brian Thornton is an acclaimed cellist and conductor who’s performed in hundreds of venues worldwide—including spaces ranging from The White House to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China.
In Thornton’s interview, he breaks down his thoughts on musicians and how they find balance in life. “So many of us musicians play with [pain]—even if it’s the pain of not being able to express ourselves,” he says in the interview.
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein. Photo credit: Marco Borggreve
Alisa Weilerstein
Alisa Weilerstein, an internationally recognized cellist, has been playing cello since she was a child, practicing with ferocity even when her cello was a cereal box with a chopstick for a bow (as she describes her first cello in the interview). Weilerstein has appeared with all of the foremost orchestras in the United States, has worked with celebrated conductors of the modern classical music era, and is best known for her commitment to expanding her cello repertoire.
In this interview, Weilerstein talks about the nature of criticism, how the pressure of the music industry feels, and what it’s like to cope psychologically with the stage.
