Cellist

With his masterfully composed Vespers Liturgy for choir a cappella, Rachmaninov transports the listener into a musical world of admirable depth and inwardness. Inspired by old modes, he created one of his most beautiful works. The »All-Night Vigil«, composed in 1915 for a benefit concert in Moscow in aid of war victims, takes up the fascinating tradition of Orthodox chants and reflects it profoundly. At the same time, Rachmaninov created a musical monument to his childhood memories and the religious soul of his homeland – a homeland he would soon leave. Rachmaninov himself described listening to his vesper liturgy as »an hour of the happiest satisfaction«.

EPSG:4326

Bavarian Radio Chorus / Peter Dijkstra

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

Matinée des Jeunes Etoiles VII

Gstaad Chapel

Virtuosic in the middle register, tenderly melancholic in the upper register, and finally a rich, sonorous depth that immerses you in the music: the exciting facets of the cello are particularly palpable in the concert by Krzysztof Michalski and Yanjun Chen. Not only because two outstanding, dedicated performers perform together, but above all thanks to their program. Schubert wrote his A minor sonata for the arpeggione, a middle-range hybrid instrument that only briefly enjoyed popularity, somewhere between guitar, viola, and cello. Translating it to viola or cello was a natural choice and quickly became established after Schubert's publication. Michalski addresses this virtuoso piece with nimble finesse at the beginning of the intimate palace concert. The following Brahms sonata rocks in melancholy E minor, whereas Poulenc's sonata flirts with light-footed elegance. At the end, Michalski and Chen go all out and sweep everyone away with Rachmaninoff's powerful and beautiful tonal language.

Cellist

Krzysztof Michalski

Events

Past events

Feb 21, 2026

Bavarian Radio Chorus / Peter Dijkstra · Elbphilharmonie

Aug 30, 2025

Matinée des Jeunes Etoiles VII · Gstaad Menuhin Festival

Future and recently performed repertoire

Cello in Cello Sonata No. 1 by Brahms

Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele

Cello in Cello Sonata by Chopin

Gstaad Menuhin Festival

Cello in Cello Sonata by Poulenc

Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele

About

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