Alban Gerhardt

Alban Gerhardt (born 1969) is a German cellist. He has performed as a soloist with many internationally known orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Early life

Gerhardt was born in Berlin, where his father was a violinist in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He took up both the piano and the cello at the age of eight. [http://www.cello.org/Newsletter/Articles/gerhardt/gerhardt.htm Interview with Gerhardt conducted by the Internet Cello Society] ]

Musical career

Gerhardt's first public performance came on February 22, 1987, when he played Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 2 in D as part of a chamber orchestra for the Berlin Philharmonic. [http://www.albangerhardt.com/english/index.html A short autobiographical essay by Gerhardt (Under "Bio" and "A More Personal Alban").] ]

Critical Reception

Gerhardt's work has generally been well received by critics worldwide. On March 30, 2004, a writer in the "Berliner Morgenpost" wrote "Once again, the cellist proved himself an artist of great conviction." A December 9, 1994, review in "Der Tagesspiegel" lauded his playing, saying it was full of "an elegance [;...] spirit; a highly civilized, cultured, and fine sound; extraordinary sensitivity; and an incredible weightless vividness." A music critic in the New York Times wrote on February 7, 1996: "Alban Gerhardt. . . is an intensely serious artist. . . . His cello playing is bold, technically resourceful and rhythmically incisive." In addition, "The Independent" said of one of his performances: "Gerhardt is a slight man but his sound is big, his musical intelligence without question as he sensitively coaxed the music to sing." [http://www.albangerhardt.com/english/index.html A collection of reviews of Gerhardt's music on his personal website (under the reviews tab)] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.albangerhardt.com/english/index.html Gerhardt's personal website]