21st century cello concert (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

21st century cello concert

CELLORHYTHMICS which comes to Rodmarton Village Hall, near Cirencester on Saturday, October 23, has been described as "bringing the cello into the 21st century."

It is a unique ensemble of four cellos and percussion, which performs in major venues and festivals throughout the UK and Europe.

The band is the creation of Russian classical cellist Alfia Nakibekova and rock and jazz cellist/composer James Hesford.

Alfia, who defected to the UK in 1981 and was one of the last masterclass pupils to work with Jaqueline du Pre, studied at the Moscow Conservatoire with Rostopovich but her keen interest in new music and improvisation led her to experiment with different styles of playing.

Cellorhythmics was formed in the 1990s because of a shared passion for the potential of the cello to explore non-classical forms within a chamber music context.

The journey takes the troupe through forays into folk and bluegrass styles, swing jazz, classical Indian forms, funk, R & B and rock.

This is a fantastic chance to see a really class act in a local village hall. Tickets are selling fast, so don't miss out - telephone 01285 841348 today.