STRING BLING
Arnold Choi performs on $11-million cello in concert with pianist Sam Deason
SAM DEASON AND ARNOLD CHOI
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Convocation Hall. Tickets $5 to $30 at the door.
At the end of the month, Arnold Choi says goodbye to a friend he’s known for three years — a friend who’s 319 years old.
It’s the Stradivari “Bonjour” cello on loan from the Canada Council.
“I will definitely be sad to return it,” Choi said. “But three years is a good amount of time. It’ll be great to see another young Canadian cellist get a chance to play it.”
The instrument has rock star appeal because of its maker and value, estimated at $11 million. It doesn’t leave Choi’s side when he travels; he buys a plane ticket for the seat next to him.
“A lot of passengers don’t realize we’re paying full-fare. A lot of kids are curious and people always ask, ‘Is that a guitar?’ ”
Choi, a Calgary native who’s in his final year of doctoral studies in music at Stonybrook University on Long Island, took up the cello at five.
“I was probably practising four or five hours a day, which is actually pretty normal for classical musicians who want to pursue it for a profession.”
Choi says there’s no definite character trait for cellists, although some say that in orchestras cellists are seen as more laid back “whereas violins are little more high-strung.”
But everybody is different, he says.
“I’ve met some tiny girls who are really shy who, when they get on stage, they play like a beast. The opposite is true as well.”
Choi is looking forward to playing with Saskatoon pianist Sam Deason again after a successful concert last year.
“He’s such a great pianist. He plays with so much energy and life.
“He’s so exciting to watch. His musicality really shines through in his playing.”
The piano-cello concert will feature solo selections by both Choi and Deason, as well as the Prokofiev Sonata for Cello and Piano, one of Choi’s favourites.
“I haven’t played it for a few years so it’s going to be great to revisit it and share it with people from Saskatchewan.”