David Johnstone plays Sarasate Aires Bohemios (Zigeunerweisen) on Cello

Zigeunerweisen (Aires Bohemios) Op. 20 (composed 1878) Pablo Sarasate (1844 - 1908) prepared as a virtuoso work for Solo Cello and Piano Cellist: David JOHNSTONE Pianist: Adela Martin Home recording on location in the north of Navarre (Spain) Camera/Video edition: Jose A. Katxua Pellejero Assistant: Estela Pellejero Aires Bohemios - Zigeunerweisen The famed violinist Pablo Sarasate wrote this work in 1878 as his Opus 20, as a show work to star himself. It was premiered in Leipzig that same year, and has become perhaps the most celebrated piece of Sarasate, with the composer even making an early historical recording of it in 1904. It would surely have featured in the San Fermín orchestral concerts in Pamplona which Sarasate organized anually. If this is considered very difficult on violin, it is even more so on violoncello. David Johnstone is probably the first cellist ever in Spain to frequently perform the work, and has done so both with piano and with orchestral accompaniment. Johnstone, as principal cellist of the Navarre Symphony Orchestra (which was originally founded by Sarasate himself way back in 1879 as the ‘Santa Cecilia’ Orchestra) has some fairly authentic roots on which to draw for his interpretation and inspiration. He also plays other Sarasate works on cello! See his web page ‘johnstone-music’ or in You Tube …