A delightful biography of a celebrated Stradivarius cello and an inviting overview of cello music and musicians by world-famous concert cellist Carlos Prieto.
In 1720, Antonio Stradivari crafted an exquisite work of art-a cello known as the Piatti. Over the next three centuries of its life, the Piatti cello left its birthplace of Cremona, Italy, and resided in Spain, Ireland, England, Italy, Germany, and the United States. The Piatti filled sacred spaces, such as the Santa Cueva de Cádiz, with its incomparable voice. It also spent time in more profane places, including New York City bars, where it served as a guarantee for unpaid liquor tabs. The Piatti narrowly escaped Nazi Germany in 1935 and was once even left lying in the street all night. In 1978, the Piatti became the musical soul mate of world-renowned cellist Carlos Prieto, with whom it has given concerts around the world.
In this delightful book, Mr. Prieto recounts the adventurous life of his beloved “Cello Prieto,” tracing its history through each of its previous owners from Stradivari in 1720 to himself. He then describes his noteworthy experiences of playing the Piatti cello, with which he has premiered some eighty compositions. In this part of their mutual story, Prieto gives a concise summary of his own remarkable career and his relationships with many illustrious personalities, including Igor Stravinsky, Dmitry Shostakovich, Pablo Casals, Mstislav Rostropovich, Yo-Yo Ma, and Gabriel García Márquez.
To make the story of his cello complete, Mr. Prieto also provides a brief history of violin making and a succinct review of cello music from Stradivari to the present. He highlights the work of composers from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, for whose music he has long been an advocate and principal performer. Thus, The Adventures of a Cello offers not only the first biography of a musical instrument but also an inviting overview of cello music and its preeminent composers and performers.
Review:
“Music as a great adventure of mind and body: this is what Carlos Prieto gives us in this spirited book.” Carlos Fuentes
“Like Rostropovich, Carlos Prieto is a true champion of the cello. A creative artist, scholar, and storyteller, Carlos has been a prolific contributor to the flow of music throughout the western hemisphere, premiering compositions of some of the greatest contemporary composers and helping to nurture and develop an entire generation of Latin America’s most talented musicians. I am privileged to know him as a colleague and honored to call him my friend.” Yo-Yo Ma
Table of contents:
Foreword. The Adventures of a Cello and the Stories and Memories of Its Happy Owner - Álvaro Mutis
Introduction. The Origin and Purpose of This Book
Part One. A Brief History of Violin Making
1. Observations on the Origin of Violins and Cellos; 2. Amati, Stradivari, Guarneri del Gesù, and the Great Italian Violin Makers
Part Two. The Adventures of a Stradivari Cello from 1720 to the Present
3. The Adventures of a Stradivari Cello: From Cremona in 1720 to New York in 1979; 4. A Brief Autobiographical Note; 5. Around the World with the Piatti; 6. My Relationship with the Music and Musicians of Latin America, Spain, and Portugal
Part Three. A Brief History of Music for Cello from the Time of Stradivari to the Present
7. The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries; 8. From Beethoven to the End of the Nineteenth Century; 9. The Twentieth and Twenty-first Centuries: The Cello Comes of Age
In 1720, Antonio Stradivari crafted an exquisite work of art-a cello known as the Piatti. Over the next three centuries of its life, the Piatti cello left its birthplace of Cremona, Italy, and resided in Spain, Ireland, England, Italy, Germany, and the United States. The Piatti filled sacred spaces, such as the Santa Cueva de Cádiz, with its incomparable voice. It also spent time in more profane places, including New York City bars, where it served as a guarantee for unpaid liquor tabs. The Piatti narrowly escaped Nazi Germany in 1935 and was once even left lying in the street all night. In 1978, the Piatti became the musical soul mate of world-renowned cellist Carlos Prieto, with whom it has given concerts around the world.
In this delightful book, Mr. Prieto recounts the adventurous life of his beloved “Cello Prieto,” tracing its history through each of its previous owners from Stradivari in 1720 to himself. He then describes his noteworthy experiences of playing the Piatti cello, with which he has premiered some eighty compositions. In this part of their mutual story, Prieto gives a concise summary of his own remarkable career and his relationships with many illustrious personalities, including Igor Stravinsky, Dmitry Shostakovich, Pablo Casals, Mstislav Rostropovich, Yo-Yo Ma, and Gabriel García Márquez.
To make the story of his cello complete, Mr. Prieto also provides a brief history of violin making and a succinct review of cello music from Stradivari to the present. He highlights the work of composers from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, for whose music he has long been an advocate and principal performer. Thus, The Adventures of a Cello offers not only the first biography of a musical instrument but also an inviting overview of cello music and its preeminent composers and performers.
Review:
“Music as a great adventure of mind and body: this is what Carlos Prieto gives us in this spirited book.” Carlos Fuentes
“Like Rostropovich, Carlos Prieto is a true champion of the cello. A creative artist, scholar, and storyteller, Carlos has been a prolific contributor to the flow of music throughout the western hemisphere, premiering compositions of some of the greatest contemporary composers and helping to nurture and develop an entire generation of Latin America’s most talented musicians. I am privileged to know him as a colleague and honored to call him my friend.” Yo-Yo Ma
Table of contents:
Foreword. The Adventures of a Cello and the Stories and Memories of Its Happy Owner - Álvaro Mutis
Introduction. The Origin and Purpose of This Book
Part One. A Brief History of Violin Making
1. Observations on the Origin of Violins and Cellos; 2. Amati, Stradivari, Guarneri del Gesù, and the Great Italian Violin Makers
Part Two. The Adventures of a Stradivari Cello from 1720 to the Present
3. The Adventures of a Stradivari Cello: From Cremona in 1720 to New York in 1979; 4. A Brief Autobiographical Note; 5. Around the World with the Piatti; 6. My Relationship with the Music and Musicians of Latin America, Spain, and Portugal
Part Three. A Brief History of Music for Cello from the Time of Stradivari to the Present
7. The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries; 8. From Beethoven to the End of the Nineteenth Century; 9. The Twentieth and Twenty-first Centuries: The Cello Comes of Age