Classical MPR interview with Julie Albers

Alison Young of Classical MPR interviewed new principal cellist Julie Albers about topics ranging from her musical training to the challenges of flying with a cello. Here are a couple of excerpts.

On the difference between playing in a chamber orchestra and a symphony:

You know, it is different in a lot of respects. What I love about it is the intimacy. I feel that you really truly can achieve that chamber music feel with a group of this size. I mean, in a regular symphony, everybody always has that as the goal, that it’s always chamber music … but it’s just easier when you’re sitting close to one another, when you can hear every voice. And I think that’s part of the challenge, but to me, what’s so enticing about the chamber orchestra.

On being invited to play the Haydn D Major cello concerto with the SPCO on short notice last spring:

You know, I was thrilled, because that’s kind of like a dream come true. For me to be able to play Haydn D Major, which is my absolute favorite piece written for cello, with a group as phenomenal as SPCO, and to do it un-conducted was just extra-exciting for me, because then you really have 100 percent interaction with the musicians. There’s no interpreter to go through. So, I would say that I was more thrilled than anything. I knew that my sister was going to be playing in the concert, and I’m good friends with people here, so it was a really neat experience.

You can find the full interview on the Classical MPR website.