VC DESERT ISLAND DOWNLOADS | Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber - ‘5 Recordings I Can’t Live Without’

VC recently caught up with British cellist Julian Lloyd Webber – for a fun game of VC Desert Island Downloads

The Violin Channel recently caught up with British cellist and Principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Mr Julian Lloyd Webber – for a fun game of VC Desert Island Downloads.

We sat him down to pick his brain on which 5 CD recordings he would take with him to a deserted island – and how the tracks have helped shape him as a musician.

1. Mstislav Rostropovich: Cellist of the Century - The Complete Warner Recordings

"For me Mstislav Rostropovich was the greatest cellist who ever lived ... I love the way he cajoled so many composers into writing new works for the instrument!

I’m cheating a bit (actually a lot!) here by choosing this extraordinary box set ... essential for anyone who loves string playing"

Mstislav Rostropovich: Cellist of the Century

The Complete Warner Recordings

Box Set

Label: Warner Classics

Release Date: March 24, 2017

2. Marriner Dirigiert Mozart : The Symphonies - Sir Neville Marriner & Academy of St Martin in the Fields

"Since I was forced to stop playing myself, due to a medical injury which weakened the power in my bowing arm, I’ve taken to conducting – and at last I have had the chance to interpret some Mozart!

I loved working as a soloist with Neville Marriner ... we did a lot together and he was always supremely musical and attentive.

His Mozart was amongst the first to break the mould of heavy-handed symphony orchestra (rather than chamber orchestra) interpretations ... he brought a lightness of touch – often choosing fast tempos – which was a breath of fresh air"

Marriner Dirigiert Mozart

Sir Neville Marriner

Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Label: DECCA

Release Date: September 30, 2011

3. Elgar Cello Concerto & Enigma Variations - Conducted by Yehudi Menuhin

"Menuhin was another musician I loved working with ... we toured with the Elgar Cello concerto across the world and every performance felt natural and different.

As a former string player himself I found that he was alert to my every nuance of bowing and fingering – I could relax and he would always be following.

I am pleased to report that Menuhin was also the most lovely man – not always the case with high-flying conductors!"

Elgar: Cello Concerto / Enigma Variations

Julian Lloyd Webber, Cello

Sir Yehudi Menuhin

Label: Polygram Classics / Philips

Release Date: January 1, 2002

4. Leonidas Kavakos & Yuja Wang - Brahms: The Violin Sonatas

Brahms Violin Sonatas

Leonidas Kavakos, Violin

Yuja Wang, piano

Label: Decca

Release Date: April 15, 2014

"Buddy Holly – Greatest Hits ... Holly’s death, aged just 22, was a tragedy for music.

 

He had an incredible talent for communicating emotion ... he wrote most of his own material and I have the feeling he could have gone anywhere he wanted with his music.

 

At the time of his death he was talking with his wife about writing film scores and also a piece for classical guitar"

 

Buddy Holly

The Absolute Essential

3 CD Collection

Label: Big 3

Release Date: April 1, 2016