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Learning to Listen: Alisa Weilerstein talks cello

On today's Learning to Listen, Alisa Weilerstein talks about the evolution of the cello as a solo instrument, and how Antonin Dvořák, Pablo Casals, and Zoltán Kodály changed how the world perceived the cello. 

Weilerstein's first two commercial recordings featured her as soloist with orchestras, playing concerti by Elgar, Dvořák and Carter.

For her new recording, she chose to play music for solo cello, including music by Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály.

 an "ethnomusicologist" who was passionate about studying and archiving folk music of his native Hungary.

. In it, he requires unusual techniques from the soloist, techniques he witnessed while watching villagers play.

Those techniques were new to the world, and Kodály's piece ended up influencing generations of composers writing for cello in the 20th century .

Hear Weilerstein talk about these techniques, and their influence, on this week's Learning to Listen on Classical MPR.


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Alisa Weilerstein - official site

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Emily Reese

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein's third recording is a love letter to the cello, and its evolution as a solo instrument. Hear her talk about cello, and hear selections from her new recording on this week's Learning to Listen.


Learning to Listen: Alisa Weilerstein discusses the cello

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