Video: How Air Canada handles Pablo Casals’s cello

Video: How Air Canada handles Pablo Casals’s cello

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norman lebrecht

June 17, 2016

From Amit Peled:

amit peled and cello

Comments

  • britcellist says:

    Hope you and Pablo had a great flight!

  • Larry W says:

    Once airborne, if you listen closely you may hear the Song of the Birds.

  • Oskar says:

    I had the exact same experience with Air Canada (although, not with a Goffriller 🙂 Even the captain actually came down to see if the cello is well fastened.
    It is quite understandable, after the company’s December 2015 turbulence experience ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35203666 ) during which 21 people were injured. The simple extension of the belt passed through the single handle which cases have on the side, might not be secure enough in such a case. Otherwise, Air Canada is very good, isn’t it ? Half price for an extra seat ! Although, when you book over the phone calling the UK number, you are actually calling to India 🙂

    • Paul says:

      In fact, there were a couple cellos (and violins and violas) aboard that turbulent December 2015 Air Canada flight. All instruments and musicians were safely strapped in and made it in one piece.

  • Duane K. Nevins says:

    Amit, Why did you decide to put the cello upside down? I would have thought it would have been better to leave it right side up. Hope all went well and the cello went undamaged.

    • David Balcon says:

      The shape of the case and the tightness of economy seats, makes this the only position it can be accommodated in. In most First and Business class cabins, these cases can be positioned upright, and on international flights with pod-like seating, they can be laid out flat and strapped in.

  • bolkonsky says:

    Pau, Pau Casals, not Pablo… Like Pau Gasol.

  • Will says:

    Not really sure what he’s moaning about – if there’s turbulence, which can strike at any time, the cello is safe, as are its fellow passengers.

  • Robert Holmén says:

    Looks like a happy result.

    I heard Amit Peled play that cello here in Dallas last year at the Lev Aronson Legacy Festival.

    He recreated a recital by Pablo Casals from exactly 100 years earlier.

    “Same music, same cello”

    • Steve peyetson says:

      “Same music, same cello,” but apparently lacking the humanity and grace of the cello’s previous owner. I’m not at all impressed with Amit’s treatment of the employee here. They are being accommodating and working to secure the cello. Considering the real problems people have traveling with instruments, Amit’s posting this video of him harassing employees for taking care of his cello and doing their job shows a real lack of class and perspective.

  • Jon Teske says:

    Amit lives in this area and performs here frequently. Always a thrill to hear him and one several occasions to play in the orchestra behind him. He, pianist Alon Goldstein, and violinist Ilya Kaler record for Naxos at a venue in my town. I went to the All Dvorak concert the day before the recording.

  • Dan Feigelson says:

    Years ago I flew with a French Horn that had a standard bell (not a cut bell) so the case was the funny-shaped French Horn shape that won’t easily fit anywhere. There was an empty middle seat and after much effort I managed to wedge it into the space down there, but the flight attendant insisted that it could become unwedged during flight and become “a deadly object”. I may have pointed out that if it became unwedged, that meant we had bigger problems than a loose horn in the cabin. I eventually got them to consent to strapping it into the empty seat itself, using the seat belt, at no extra charge to me, but not before they made absolutely clear that this was not the airline’s policy.

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