Liebe Studentinnen und Studenten, Kurz vor den Vortragsabenden werden die meisten von Euch scheinbar jedes Mal von einem grausamen, unsichtbaren Dämon besucht. Dieser spricht laut und unaufhörlich, besonders dann, wenn Ihr musiziert. Er denkt aber nicht musikalisch. Er redet über das, was die Leute sagen werden. Er vergleicht Euch mit
Author Archives: Elena Cheah
Dear Students: an open letter to everyone everywhere, and to myself
Dear Students, Every time we have a class recital, or you have important performances or auditions coming up, a nasty, invisible demon seems to visit most of you. It talks incessantly and loudly, especially when you’re trying to make music. It doesn’t think musically at all. It talks about what
Recent Articles on VAN
Read my latest contributions to the English edition of VAN magazine here: Chalk Spaceships: Finding Improvisation An essay about my experience of searching for childlike play in music Performer On Trial My account of the nerve-wracking, unmusical experience of auditioning for a professional orchestra
Elektrick World
Check out my new project with my brother, an electric violin/cello duo – world music like you’ve never heard it before. Here’s a taste of an album in the makings…
This Shouldn’t Be Happening
Ralf Schmid and I are playing one of Chick Corea’s Children’s Songs. I am lucky to be playing with such a great jazz pianist. We’ve arranged three of these pieces for cello and piano with improv solos. It’s my opening concert at the Music University of Freiburg. It’s a Freiburgish
Learning to listen to yourself
Here’s a frequent cello lesson scenario: a student will play something and then shrink in shame, saying that it was bad. Okay, I’ll say, so what exactly was bad: intonation, sound, phrasing? The answer is often: everything. Those who are most critical of themselves usually also have the least clarity
Beyond Borders is Back!
Next performance: 6 February, Synagoge Affaltrach (in German) für die deutsche Beschreibung klicken Sie bitte hier About the program: Elena Cheah, cellist and writer, explores the everyday lives and inner conflicts of young people across the Middle East in this performance of solo cello works and readings from her book An
New CD on Costa Records
I am very excited to announce my new CD: Figment, a recital of international contemporary works for solo cello. Order directly from Costa Records! Benjamin Britten Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72 Elliott Carter Figment No. 1 Isang Yun Glissées Lior Navok Fantasy
For the Love of Music
A few years ago, I had the idea of starting a chamber music society that would include professional and amateur players. Like many of my spontaneous ideas, it remained a vague notion to be realized at a later date when the opportunity arose: in other words, never. This is of
2014 events
12 January concert with Aydar Gaynullin, accordeon, Kammermusiksaal, Berliner Philharmonie 11 February concert with KlangVerwaltung, Philharmonie am Gasteig, Munich 20-22 February substitution with Berlin Philharmonic and Simon Rattle, Berliner Philharmonie 3-7 March On tour in Europe with Berlin Philharmonic and Simon Rattle 10-20 March coach and performer, Orquesta Nacional Juvenil de