Label news: DG signs first female cellist

Label news: DG signs first female cellist

main

norman lebrecht

April 27, 2017

Deutsche Grammophon today signed Camille Thomas, a Franco-Belgian artist.

She is, the label says, its first ever female cellist.

Comments

  • Andrew Constantine says:

    What about Anja Thauer?

    • Max Grimm says:

      Thauer recorded for DG, as did Jacqueline Du Pré. I don’t think either was signed with DG though, their recordings being individual projects with the label.

  • Ungeheuer says:

    Hasn’t Sol Gabetta recorded for DG? Maybe not as soloist but still …

  • John Borstlap says:

    Maybe DG’s reluctance to take-on female cellists is due to Sir Thomas Beecham’s notorious comment upon a femal soloist, which has gone down into classical music mythology.

    ‘During a rehearsal, conductor Sir Thomas Beecham thought that his female soloist was playing less than adequately on her fine Italian cello. He stopped the orchestra and declared: “Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands, and all you can do is scratch it!” ‘

  • Peter says:

    Oh dear. Is Deutsche Grammophon now in the pinup-calendar business? Or do they still aspire to sell great recordings?

    • John Borstlap says:

      They have been Pin Upperclass since HvKarajan.

      • Peter says:

        Oh, come on. Not everything HvK released was gold, but it was very different label back then. Or in other words, they actually were a record label. They had the know how and the people to make great recordings.

    • Bruce says:

      I remember reading once that the main two criteria for physical attractiveness are symmetrical features and good physical health. You can’t really hold those against a person; and from a quick image search, she doesn’t seem to go for the sexy-sexy look in her publicity photos.

      I’ve never heard her, but maybe DG decided to sign her because she’s good.

    • Brettermeier says:

      “Is Deutsche Grammophon now in the pinup-calendar business? Or do they still aspire to sell great recordings?”

      Sooo… Women have to be ugly to be good at what they’re doing? That’s a pretty archaic bubble you live in.

  • Sylvester says:

    It is quite scandalous how this girl is moving forward in the music world. Who is standing behind and what money is in the game. This kind of news is very annoying and discouraging for classical artists. Pure product of medias

  • MOST READ TODAY: