Advantages: fun, social opportunity, stimulating, rewarding
Disadvantages: big, difficult, not suited to the tone deaf

...the age of 8, I took Associated Board exams 2,3,5,6 and 8 and I have taught the cello since passing grade 8 in 1994 and still practice regularly. I have taken on pupils of different ages and abilities including a child with special needs who loves his cello lessons. It has also inspired me to learn more instruments myself such as the bassoon and clarinet. Best cello recording has to be J. Du Pre with the Elgar cello concerto - timeless! I have two cello's one is called Charlie and the other is Pablo, although I don't have a favourite, Pablo is used more for public performance as he has a brighter sound. Cellos range from around £500 to £K's so if the bank balance is suffering this may not be the right instrument for you, yet. Strings can be expensive (for decent ones) but most city libraries will have an abundance of cello music available so... Read review

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Advantages: I love it
Disadvantages: size and cost of lessons music extra

...I remember to this day how I took up the 'cello, I was at a junior school in Staffordshire and I was asked if I wanted to take up the 'cello, this seemed like an excellent idea to a 6 year old, my sister played the violin so why not out do her!! For anyone who doesn't know what a 'cello is I am sickened by you but still I will explain; it is the second largest member of the string family, often described as a big violin. To me it is a gorgeous wooden instrument, it has 4 strings (A, D, G and C) and is played with a bow (long stick with horse hair attached at both ends, used for sword fighting with in the early days of playing) In the early days it was a bit of a pain, as a six year old I had to get my mum to move it everywhere for me, (fear of breaking and due to the size) I hated playing it, practise would end with hours of rows... Read review

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Advantages: Innovative
Disadvantages: Rather short

...This is an album I would not hesitate to recommend to fans of bands such as Metallica or similar and also fans of classical music. The album is an interesting concept, four men, graduates in classical music, playing heavy metal music on cellos. The result is an album that is fresh and innovative. The spirit of the original tunes (some of Metallica's greatest hits such as Unforgiven, Master of Puppets and Sanatorium) is captured perfectly in a different form. Those however that do not enjoy metallica or classical music would be best advised to stay away as it requires an appreciation of at least on of these to find real enjoyment in this particular album. The main flaw in my mind are that the album is rather short, with only a handful of tracks. Those that are included are all enjoyable, but it does leave something to be desired... Read review

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Advantages: Highly burnished, engaging, musically intelligent and emotionally mature playing; beautiful tone is never saccharine.
Disadvantages: Nil.

...It would be one of the most daunting works to take on for any musician, given the history of its recording, yet British cellist Natalie Clein decided to do it. It took her some ten years to get to the point where she felt ready to tackle it again for posterity, and this CD gives her good reason to be proud. ELGAR'S CELLO CONCERTO AND DU PRÉ So what's so intimidating about Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto? Besides its call in the performer for technical virtuosity and a mature musical understanding of the piece, the concerto has also been inextricably linked with Jacqueline du Pré (1945 - 1987), cellist extraordinaire, who was tragically struck down at the prime of life by multiple sclerosis. Her landmark 1965 recording, made when she was just twenty (with John Barbirolli conducting the London Symphony Orchestra), is still hallowed by many... Read review

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Advantages: The Best Recording Ever
Disadvantages: None

...Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 Jacqueline du Pre and the LSO, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli Madam, you have an instrument between your legs capable of giving pleasure to thousands, and all you can do is sit there and scratch it! So said the eminently witty conductor Sir Thomas Beecham, in reference to a lady ‘cellist. He certainly wasn’t, however, referring to the unmatchable Jacqueline du Pre, who, in my humble opinion, was the most gifted cellist ever and whose short, tragic life is somehow augured by this melancholic recording. It’s an EMI classic, which means that it’s an old, old recording, but so good that it shouldn’t be lost at the bottom of a pile of old vinyls at a jumble sale, but digitally re-mastered and made available for future generations on CD. The original recording... Read review

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Advantages: Superb Musicianship and a genuinely AWESOME Powerful Progressive Rock Band!!!
Disadvantages: none!

...Little known i suppose because they are Swedish. ' Anekdoten ' are a five piece progressive rock band and unusually have a female Cello player. This their first album is a magnificent debut CD and sold out i believe in there native country very quickly. Critically aclaimed by nearly all, this really comes close to the power and intensity of ' Red ' era 'King Crimson', whom obviously they are much influenced by. Stylistically they are a little like fellow Swede's ' Anglagard ' . Another highly acclaimed progressive band. I believe they recorded this album in the same studio as they did. Very dense , yet melodic themes here with very powerfull Bass / Drums / Keys / Guitar / Cello interplay.The bass work is very remeniscent of '' Chris Sqiure ' of ' Yes ' and indeed 'John Wetton'. Guitar is definitely ' Bob Fripp like. Vocals are sung... Read review

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Advantages: Not many classically trained artists out there belting out metal!
Disadvantages: None - they are unique - they have no competition.

...Apocolyptica began life as 'four blokes on cellos playing Metallica songs' and have since progressed to being four blokes on cellos that now write a lot of their own material, incorporate a drummer and use the occasional session musician/vocalist.  That may sound like a criticism but in actual fact it isn't - it wasn't broke and they didn't fix it, just tweaked it a little!  The classical sound of the cello, although making appearances on the CD, is largely overpowered by the grunging, dirty sound they now conjure up for the instrument giving the whole sound a darker, more metal, edge.  The first track on the album is a wonderful introduction to the set and was broadcast to millions when they played it live during 2007's Eurovision song contest in Helsinki!  A dark and atmospheric piece that flits between moods and shows their obvious... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful, haunting music for cello; enough to convert me to a Beiser's fan!
Disadvantages: Not that I can recognise

...I stumbled across Maya Beiser quite my accident. A day out at the Barbican to enjoy music free and ticketed in honour of composer Steve Reich's seventieth birthday. As we entered the building, good and early, a rather attractive woman with a cello and detachable sleeves was soundchecking and I think recording parts for her later multitracked performance in the foyer. Just those twenty minutes as she prepared were magnificent… normally I'm not one for solo cello - at least, it wouldn't really occur to me to listen. The day began with Balinese Gamelan; a group loose attached to the London Symphony Orchestra entertained greatly, all the more so for Gamelan being an unknown musical form to me. Immediately following was Maya Beiser. Sitting alone with cello, the composer of the piece stood forward and explained Maya Beiser had asked... Read review

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Advantages: Alters original sound and still remains great throughout
Disadvantages: None

...Just before I launch into the review, for people that don't know who Apocalyptica are, here is a short summary. They are a quartet of cello players from Finland who had their primary music training in classical but decided to become a metal band. Their first few releases were centred around the fact that they covered Metallica songs and they have since branched off to cover other bands and write some of their own stuff. I was extremely surprised to find this album. It just jumped out at me from the shelf in Virgin. I didn't even know that the new Apocalyptica album was out, which I am very embarrassed about considering that I am going to one of their concerts in December. Well, at least it gave me a chance to listen to their new material, which also caught me a little off guard... Packaging The main reason why it caught my eye... Read review

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Advantages: Gorgeous music, played with much passion
Disadvantages: None really

..., especially if the potential piece has real quality. How do we know if it is going to capture the audience's imagination if we don't even try?! Fortunately the record company Hyperion have always had a great philosophy about bringing out recordings featuring unusual repertoire, and this CD is a prime example of this. Combined with a soloist, the cellist - Alban Gerhardt - and a conductor - Carlos Kalmar - both passionate proponents of the musical path less travelled, they've produced a fascinating recording which should hopefully achieve a lot in making these works better known. Artists: Cellist Alban Gerhardt is one of the top international cello soloists on the circuit today, with a very wide-ranging repertoire, appearing with such orchestras as the Berlin Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony... Read review

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