By Jill Yesko , University Relations
Contact (336) 334-3890
Posted: 1-22-07
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The mellifluous sounds of a 60-cello orchestra and more than 20 other ensembles will be heard Friday through Sunday, Feb. 16-18, during a celebration of cello music at UNCG.
The weekend, which consists of concerts, master classes and presentations, honors the work of legendary cellist, conductor, composer and arranger Laszlo Varga.
The 82 year-old Varga will conduct and perform renditions of his own groundbreaking transcriptions that include works by Bach, Brahms, Mozart and Strauss. He will be joined by renowned professional cellists and students from around the country who will perform over 20 of his original arrangements.
Highlights of the weekend include a rare performance of the tone poem “Don Quixote” by Richard Strauss arranged for chamber group and conducted by Varga. A grand finale program will feature 60 cellos playing “Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis” by Ralph Vaughan Williams in an original arrangement by Varga.
As the home of the largest body of cello music in the world, the Jackson Library Special Collections will mount a display from the Varga Cello Music Collection, to be shown in the Library’s main lobby throughout the weekend. Varga donated his personal collection of original arrangements and manuscripts to the library last year.
Among the cellists to perform are Janos Starker, distinguished professor, Indiana University; Takayori Atsumi, professor emeritus, Arizona State University and Beth Vanderborgh of the Greensboro and Winston-Salem Symphonies.
Other events during the weekend include include a Tai Chi class for cellists taught by Ross Harbaugh that explores natural movement, balance and momentum specific to string players.
Varga was principal cellist with the New York Philharmonic for 11 years under the baton of Leonard Bernstein and Dimitri Mitropoulos. In the 1950s, he formed the first cello quarter in the U.S. which helped spawn a worldwide movement of cello ensembles. To date, he has completed over 50 transcriptions for solo cello, cello and piano, cello ensemble and mixed ensemble with cello.
“As a result of UNCG’s cello music collection and the accompanying celebrations, every cellist in the world has a reason to come to UNCG,” said Brooks Whitehouse, professor of cello at UNCG and director of the celebration.
Tickets for the events, which are sponsored by the School of Music and the Jackson Library, are available through the UNCG box office by calling (336) 334-4849, or by visiting http://boxoffice.uncg.edu/tickets. Prices are $15 per concert for the general public with free admission for UNCG students. For a full schedule of events, visit www.uncg.edu/mus/cellocelebrations/VargaSchedule.htm.
