Alisa Weilerstein, a 29-year old American cellist who debuted in Carnegie Hall at age 15, is arguably at her peak with over 100 concert performances per year. She recently played Antonin Dvorák’s Cello Concerto in her fourth engagement with the Houston Symphony. This is only the latest in a long line of monumental accomplishments.
If there’s such a thing as cello mojo, Alisa Weilerstein has it. Not only did she make her Carnegie Hall debut at age 15 and perform for President Obama in 2009, last year she was also chosen by conductor Daniel Barenboim to perform the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic. The Elgar was the signature piece of Barenboim’s late wife, cellist Jacqueline du Pre. That’s an honor — and a litmus test — which Barenboim has only granted one other artist: Yo-Yo Ma.
Weilerstein will be performing at Spoleto Festival USA through its end on June 12, 2011.
A fantastic interview with her is available at the Houston Chronicle
Q: You’re from a very musical family. What was it like growing up surrounded by music?
A: For me it was normal – but I didn’t really know any other way for things to be. I listened to my parents practicing in the house from the time I was just a few days old. My mom is very disciplined: She was practicing again almost immediately after I was born. And I heard my father’s quartet in the house until I was 7 years old.
I was the one who begged my parents for a cello. They were quite reluctant to let me start, because I was only 4. They said I was too young – but I insisted, so they gave me a one-sixteenth-size cello. I practiced about half an hour a day when I was starting out. Later, when I was 9, I started doing about two hours a day with my father…
Weilerstein’s “Tiny Desk Concert” from NPR
She is unbeleiveable to manage such heavy load. So inspiring!