RACHMANINOV, Sergey

Sonata for cello and piano in G minor op. 19

III. Andante

Torleif Thedéen, guest professor

Mar Bonet Silvestre, student

Miguel Ángel Ortega Chavaldas, accompanying pianist

At the beginning, the Professor talks about the podium when playing with the piano, it is not the best way to communicate because the instruments are in different levels. Specially in this piece, they have to feel together, piano and cello.
During the whole class, Thedéen talks about dynamics, the contact point, the concentration on the sound quality and the projection through free movements, etc. all this to achieve an expressive result.
Dynamics at the beginning are 'piano espressivo', so we should translate this indication in a musical thing, looking for the brightness of the sound -the use of the bow has to go in this direction-. He explains the character of the main cue and the phrasing, sometimes between singing and talking. When the tension is coming, we have to feel it and to anticipate this climax. Finally, he comments that some changes of character should be more unexpected and gives the recommendation of using the glissando with vibrato to get a huge sound.

Language: English