<<  -- 2 --  Tess Crebbin    CELLO ADDICTION

As part of the competition, forty five young cellists from twenty two countries are being asked to perform a new original work, Graciane Finzi's Theme and Variations of El Cant dells Osels for solo cello, commissioned by the Kronberg Academy.

'It is very inspiring to compose for an international competition of such high standard,' explains Finzi. 'This work is a challenge for these highly talented young cellists. The musical as well as the technical level is very demanding.'

Graciane Finzi, born 1945 in Casablanca, studied piano, harmony, counterpoint, fugue and composition at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris. She has composed pieces for solo instruments, chamber music and works for orchestra, sixty of which were commissioned by the Secretary of Culture of France, Radio France and numerous modern music festivals. Her best-known works are the opera Pauvre Assasin (1992), Profil Sonore for harpsichord (1970), L'Amour et la Vie d'une Femme for string trio (1995) and L'errance dans la nuit (2003). The cello plays a prominent part in most of her works. There are also educational pieces, numerous compositions of chamber music and two concertos. From 1975 to 1979, Graciane Finzi conducted the Festival de La Défense. She is Professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris. Her new work was sent to the forty five young cellists just four weeks prior to the Second International Pablo Casals Cello Competition. Its world première performance is part of the second round of the competition. During the first round, from 25-28 August 2004 at the Stadthalle in Kronberg, the competitors play the Prelude from the Suite No 5 BMV 1011 in C minor by Johann Sebastian Bach, Sonata L'Imperatrice in A by Luigi Boccherini and Adagio und Allegro Op 70 by Robert Schumann.

Continue >>