A Very Warm Welcome from Artistic Director Ralph Kirshbaum

A very warm welcome to this, the 9th RNCM Manchester International Cello Festival, in which the spotlight is sharply focused on representative British music for the cello. For the first time, British composers will provide the dominant thread in the broad fabric of the festival. The pivotal figure in this overview is undoubtedly Benjamin Britten, and all of his major works for cello can be heard during the five days of the festival. Britten’s teacher, Frank Bridge, will also be featured; and there will be the opportunity to hear pieces by many living British composers, who at the very least were inspired by the example of Britten. An energising undercurrent will be the large number of personal first performances given by our visiting international artists of significant British compositions. There will be, of course, a number of world and UK premières.

Sadly, the scheduled appearance of the legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, the dedicatee of Britten’s major works for cello, has been cancelled due to ill health. We send him our heartfelt good wishes for a speedy recovery, and celebrate his 80th birthday with a warm and personal tribute to him and his remarkable achievements on the closing day of the Festival.

The Pierre Fournier Award, which served as a catalyst for the Cello Festival, will be represented by all but one of the Fournier winners, as well as the most recent recipient of the Award, Gemma Rosefield.

New to the festival will be appearances by Ivan Monighetti and Enrico Dindo; a concert by the Manchester Camerata and their Music Director, Douglas Boyd; a cello quintet series featuring the Chilingirian, Michaelangelo and Sorrel Quartets; and a much-anticipated Beethoven recital given by Miklos Perényi and Andras Schiff. There is great enthusiasm surrounding the return visit of Yo-Yo Ma, and as always enormous gratitude for the continued loyalty of so many other outstanding international artists who bring their musical passions, energy and joy to us on a regular basis.

I add my personal thanks to all those artists, past and present, who have through the years brought such an abundant richness to the character of this Festival. To our indispensable patrons and sponsors, to the supportive administrative team at the RNCM, to my wonderful, loyal, patient and indefatigable Festival staff, and to you the enthusiastic public, I am deeply indebted.

Ralph Kirshbaum
Artistic Director

Created on 31-Mar-05 at 11:11
Last modified on 03-Apr-07 at 15:39