Glass house award for unstoned cellist
mainpress release:
The British cellist Steven Isserlis tonight received the 14th Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward at the Dresden Music Festival. The award was presented by Thomas Meier, CEO of Glashütte Original, and Jan Vogler, Intendant of the Dresden Music Festival, after Isserlis’ concert with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Vladimir Jurowski’s baton at Dresden’s Kulturpalast. Steve said:
»I am very happy to receive the 2017 Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward. It is a great honor, and a particular pleasure to receive this prize from Glashütte Original and from a valued (and generous!) cello-colleague, Jan Vogler. Music education has always been very close to my heart. I have been lucky enough to work with many great teachers, including my childhood teacher, Jane Cowan, and the Hungarian dynamo Sándor Végh – as well as, in more recent times, two other great Hungarians, György Kurtág and Ferenc Rados. I feel that it is my duty to pass along to the younger generation of players the values I imbibed from those inspired musicians. Bringing music to children is another preoccupation in my career. The life of any child, from whatever background, can be transformed by music. As well as providing personal fulfillment, music can be of immense help in social terms within difficult circumstances; we have seen tangible results of that in the forms of youth ensembles around the world, such as the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela, Buskaid in South Africa, and many others. Musical friendships are made that last for life; playing in groups with others teaches the importance of mutual respect, and of listening to others; sharing a musical goal can be as strong a bond as any in childhood. And children, as well as adults, turn to music in times of loneliness or sadness; music will never let them down. I think it’s true to say that a singing child is generally a happy child; the more we can bring great music into the lives of children everywhere, the better those lives will be,« Steven Isserlis said yesterday in Dresden.
Steven Isserlis is a true STAR – not only as an outstanding cellist but as a human being.
And it makes him thinking about sharing his genius and knowkedge/ rich experience with society, especially with younger generations – society of the future.Steven is an consumed reader- humanist who perfectly understands this need in the modern often confusing world.
Great response, all so true about the importance of music making. Congratulations!
Well deserved.
Coincidentally I met him once in a breakfast room in a hotel — he was sitting alone to have his breakfast while reading a book. I chose a seat close by and waited for him to finish his. About half an hour later, I sensed him about to leave when he pushed his chair to his table; I made my way to say hi and told him my 9 year old daughter is a huge fan and would love to have an autograph if I may. He hesitated couple of seconds and answered, I prefer to have a breakfast without being disturbed. Then quickly left.