Happy to take a walk on wild side

TASMANIAN Symphony Orchestra principal cello Sue-Ellen Paulsen will perform Friedrich Gulda’s Concerto for Cello and Wind Orchestra at the TSO’s Peer Gynt concert in Hobart on Saturday afternoon.

Paulsen was present at the work’s premiere performance in Vienna when she was studying there in the early 1980s.

It was performed by cellist Heinrich Schiff, for whom the work was written, and conducted by the composer himself.

“I thought it was really wild, unusual and unexpected and it’s been on my mind since then, but until now I haven’t had the opportunity to play it,” Paulsen said.

“[TSO conductor] Marko Letonja has conducted the piece a number of times, so we thought it would be a great opportunity to do it.

“It’s the sort of show-off piece that is normally performed by a man, so I’m really happy to be able to play it.”

Paulsen said Gulda’s concerto is in five movements, all of which are different stylistically. It begins with a very jazzy opening movement.

“It’s quite loud, wild and big with jazzy riffs for the cello — not at all what you would expect,” she said.

“The second movement, Idylle, is very sweet, with beautiful quite slow tunes and a hint of Austrian dance music.

“The Cadenza has a contemporary music sound with less conservative harmonies.

“The Menuett features the guitar, is quite different again, and in some ways is like early music but very unusual.

“The last movement, Finale Alla Marcia, is wild, fast, good fun and in the big-band style.”

Also featuring an abridged version of Grieg’s score for Peer Gynt narrated by Ryk Goddard and featuring the TSO Chorus and actors Lisa McCune and John Xintavelonis, the TSO’s Peer Gynt concert will be held at the Federation Concert Hall from 2.30pm on Saturday.

Tickets start at $33, go to www.tso.com.au or phone 1800 001 190 for bookings.

— PENNY THOW