Final Round

National Cello Competition
Fri 8 Nov 20:15 - 22:15
Main Hall
Past event
Fri 8 Nov
20:15 - 22:15
Past event

The most exciting part of the Cello Biennale

Program

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations
Short solo piece of choice 

Candidates

Bruno Tobon

Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations
Prokofiev March, from Music for Children

Thomas Prechal

Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations
Prechal Inner Scream

Ori Ron

Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations
Ron Prelude based on “In a Sentimental Mood” 

Performers

CvA Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Elschenbroich conductor

The three finalists of the National Cello Competition perform the famous Rococo Variations by Tchaikovsky, the perfect competition piece. The seemingly simple yet style sensitive theme is followed by a set of variations in which melodious lines and virtuosity battle for the front stage.

As a special added element, the finalists play a solo encore of their own choice right after the exciting Coda in the Tchaikovsky. 

The final can also be followed via a livestream.

After the Finale, you can vote for your favourite candidate for the Audience Award. This year, you can do so via the Biennale App. 

The concert ends at 22.15. The award ceremony starts approximately at 23.00

Leonard Elschenbroich

Leonard Elschenbroich (Frankfurt, 1985) was ten years old when he received a scholarship to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School in London. We went on to study with Frans Helmerson at the Hochschule für Musik Köln. Elschenbroich received the Leonard Bernstein Award at the opening of the Schleswig-Holstein Festival 2009, following his performance of Brahms’ Double Concerto with Anne-Sophie Mutter conducted by Christoph Eschenbach. He has since been praised as one of the most charismatic cellists of his generation. Elschenbroich has commissioned works by composers such as Mark-Anthony Turnage, Luca Lombardi, Arlene Sierra, and Suzanne Farrin. At the Proms in London, he gave the world premiere of Mark Simpson’s Cello Concerto, which was composed specially for him. Elschenbroich also gave the world premiere of Willem Jeths’ second Cello Concerto at the Cello Biënnale in 2022. In 2012, he co-founded the Orquesta Filarmonica de Bolivia, the first orchestra to perform a Mahler symphony in the country’s history. Elschenbroich regularly returns to Bolivia to lead educational projects and develop orchestras. This led Elschenbroich to start exploring conducting with various orchestras; for example, the Residentie Orchestra in 2021, which premiered a new cello concerto by Joël Bons under his baton, with Lidy Blijdorp as soloist. Leonard Elschenbroich plays the Matteo Goffriller 'Ex-Leonard Rose-Ex-Alfredo Piatti' cello (Venice, 1693), on private loan.