Lucerne Festival - Raphaela Gromes

The German cello virtuoso Raphaela Gromes performed as part of the Lucerne Festival. A Sunday afternoon well spent...
raphaela gromes

He started playing the cello at the age of 4, graduated with a 1.0, won several prizes at the age of 21, found a supporter and musical companion in Julian Riem and began his professional career and today, at the age of 31, has a list of successes that is getting longer and longer. Daniel Dodds - Artistic Director of the Festival Strings Lucerne ensemble - had the list of successes with him at the concert, but spared the audience the trouble of reading it out.

Then Raphaela Gromes entered the hall and explained the program, which was based on the Lucerne Festival's "Diversity" theme, in her bright, clear voice. For my personal taste, the program got better and better over time. The virtuoso performance was particularly impressive due to the joy of making music. As there are, of course, no recordings of the concert, I won't mention similar concerts or anything like that here. But if you are interested in the last pieces from "Carmen" (world premiere), you can look forward to the forthcoming CD, which the artist herself announced very smartly in the concert hall. 

The ensemble of the festival strings lucerne and raphaela gromes

Source: Facebook page Raphaela Gromes

So instead of referring to the concert (anyone who has the opportunity to see her live should do so), we will now focus on the latest album "Imagination" and in particular on a piece that the artist also announces in the following video. David Popper's suite "Im Walde", Opus 50, No.2, "Gnomentanz".

It is about Therese Henriques' walk through the forest, to whom the piece was dedicated by David Popper. A brief solemn moment as she enters the forest, until she lifts her nose into the fresh forest air and cello passages suggest the rustling of the trees. Then forest spirits appear, performing a mighty dance. The gnome dance. - Then she pauses and reflects on herself and the ever-increasing feeling is mirrored by the piano. Finally, she dances a waltz herself, then pauses briefly at a flower and quickly leaves the forest again. So much for the theme of the song.

Anyone who has been to the KKL can imagine how Raphaela Gromes looks over to the piano for a moment during the entries, smiling and continuing to play her instrument with great enthusiasm. This sparkle could be felt in every corner of the hall during the interplay with Daniel Dodds and his ensemble and this was not the only reason for the successful afternoon. 

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