I'm going to hear Joshua Bell at the Hollywood Bowl next week

August 14, 2008, 2:57 PM · We're going to be having a bit of a Joshua Bell-fest here on Violinist.com in the next few weeks.

I'll be...

  • reporting on Bell's Hollywood Bowl concert on Aug. 19,
  • interviewing him for a blog entry here on Violinist.com,
  • giving away a few copies of his new CD, Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, to readers of the site, just before its release date on Sept. 2.

    For next week's concert, he'll be playing the Chausson Poeme, along with Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Saint-Saens. A fun program! The "Poeme" is a piece that I always think is from a later period; to me it has a gloom and slight dissonance I associate with the period between the World Wars. But it's definitely not; it was written in the 1880s for Eugene Ysaye. (Ysaye -> teacher of Josef Gingold -> teacher of Joshua Bell.)

    Then there's the Intro and Rondo Capriccioso, one of the first pieces I completely fell in love with when I was a child, learning the violin. And Stravinsky's Petrushka, which in addition to having some of Stravinsky's best musical ideas, has everyone's favorite random trumpet solo/excerpt. I'm looking forward to sitting back watching an outdoor concert after a summer of playing them!

    Here's the link for tickets to the Bowl concert, if you are in Southern California and are interested. Do you have questions you'd like me to ask when I interview Joshua Bell? If so, please submit them on the V.com discussion page. (By the way, it looks like he changed the look of his website today.)

    Replies

    August 14, 2008 at 10:17 PM · how do you get a free copy of his cd? haha.

    I'm a Joshua Bell Fanatic. He is my favorite violinist, or one of them, of all time.

    August 15, 2008 at 12:34 AM · I need a poster of him, or any violinist for that matter, to hang in a very empty dorm room. Where are the classical music posters? Does he make posters?

    Real question: If he could put together his dream music festival, what would it be like?

    August 15, 2008 at 12:47 AM · On a side note, I have recently discovered Petrushka and I am very much in love. That concert is great - he played that program very masterfully in Kansas City. Have fun! I'm very jealous. ;)

    August 15, 2008 at 01:21 AM · What is your practice routine?

    August 15, 2008 at 03:55 AM · I wish I could go and hear Joshua Bell playing that program. I look forward to reading your interview, Laurie. It should be extra good because it will be one violinist interviewing another violinist.

    August 15, 2008 at 02:27 PM · I would ask for his thoughts on the state of classical music and how that can best be improved (i.e. through crossover work, youth education)? On a side note; wow...interviews with Hilary, Joshua, Perlman, and an article in the upcoming issue of The Strad. I want to be you when I grow up!!

    August 15, 2008 at 04:02 PM ·

    ...

    August 15, 2008 at 05:45 PM · ¿Hollywood Bowl? Ask him if he knows the story about Heifetz picking up the ghost hitchiker on the way back home from there.

    August 17, 2008 at 03:21 AM · What story is that, Jim? !

    August 17, 2008 at 03:38 AM · I guess it's not that well known. Ask him if he knows the story about the time Heifetz was going to learn to fly helicopters.

    August 17, 2008 at 03:33 PM · I am curious about his experience busking. Did he enjoy it, or learn anything valuable from the experience? Would he consider doing it again for any reason? Does he think it is something other violinists ought to do?

    Much respect to Mr. Bell. He's amazing.

    This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

  • Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Email

    Violinist.com is made possible by...

    Shar Music
    Shar Music

    Pirastro Strings
    Pirastro Strings

    JR Judd Violins
    JR Judd Violins

    Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
    Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

    Dimitri Musafia, Master Maker of Violin and Viola Cases
    Dimitri Musafia, Master Maker of Violin and Viola Cases

    Violinist.com Shopping Guide
    Violinist.com Shopping Guide

    Metzler Violin Shop

    Southwest Strings

    Bobelock Cases

    Johnson String Instrument/Carriage House Violins

    Jargar Strings

    Bay Fine Strings Violin Shop

    FiddlerShop

    Fiddlerman.com

    Los Angeles Violin Shop

    Baerenreiter

    String Masters

    Nazareth Gevorkian Violins

    Laurie's Books

    Discover the best of Violinist.com in these collections of editor Laurie Niles' exclusive interviews.

    Violinist.com Interviews Volume 1
    Violinist.com Interviews Volume 1, with introduction by Hilary Hahn

    Violinist.com Interviews Volume 2
    Violinist.com Interviews Volume 2, with introduction by Rachel Barton Pine

    Subscribe