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"

 

 

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"

 

 

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!"

 

 

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