Building Bridges Through Music: This Week’s From the Top

Renowned cellist Paul Katz guest hosts this week’s episode of From the Top (listen on your participating station and/or by podcast).

Recorded on July 31 at New England Conservatory (NEC)’s Jordan Hall in Boston, this episode of From the Top features young artists from around the world who studied at the Morningside Music Bridge program in residence at NEC this summer.

Paul Katz is known to concertgoers the world over as cellist of the Cleveland Quartet, which, during an international career of 26 years, made more than 2,500 appearances on four continents. Today he is a member of the faculty at New England Conservatory, founder of NEC’s Professional String Quartet Training Program, and the creator of CelloBello, a website designed to connect cellists of all ages and performance levels. It was wonderful to have him share the stage with our young musicians.

Featured on the program:

 18-year-old cellist Anthony Choi from New York, NY performing I. Andante and II. Allegro from the Sonata for two cellos in G minor, Op. 2, No.8, by George Frideric Handel with guest host Paul Katz (cello) and collaborative pianist Zenan Yu

16-year-old pianist Mohammad Alsheikh from Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine performing: Ballade No 2 in F major, Op 38 by Frédéric Chopin

13-year-old cellist Nahar Eliaz from Savyon, Israel performing: I. Preludio-Fantasia from the Suite for Solo Cello by Gaspar Cassadó

18-year-old violist Yizilin Liang from Shanghai, China performing: III. Allegretto grazioso from the Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op. 120, No. 1 by Johannes Brahms with collaborative pianist Qiuning Jonie Huang

15-year-old violinist Hanna Pozorsk from Gdansk, Poland performing: I. The Fountain of Arethusa, from Myths, Op. 30, by Karol Szymanowski, with collaborative pianist Akiko Tominaga

13-year-old violinist Anna Stube from Calgary, Canada and Latvia; cellist Paul Katz; and 15-year-old pianist Henry From from Bellingham, WA performing: I. Allegro from the Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1 “Ghost”, by Ludwig van Beethoven