J.S. Bach Cello Suite No.2 in D minor - I. Prelude - Viola

I spent most of my career trying to play like the greats, especially when I was a student. Now I realize I can only be me. It's taken awhile for me to sound like myself.
Stay healthy and safe, everyone. #covidrecordings #songsofcomfort #mnorch #inthistogether #minnesotaorchestra
Thank you for listening.
Sifei Cheng, viola
Minnesota Orchestra
Instagram: / sifstudios

[@josemotta9560]

Que sonoridade linda. Que pureza de som. Muito lindo.

[@barracudaspin1427]

Thank you J.S. Bach and thank you Sifei Cheng.

[@lindachene5006]

Beautiful, beautiful tone, and so smooth.

[@iolabracco4558]

that was so good! your sound is so sweet, and great finish!:)

[@catherinefitzgerald7686]

Thank you for Sharing another inspiring and beautiful interpretation, listening to your playing has become the perfect way for me to start the day!

[@MnOrchViolist]

Thank you so much!

[@mindyquan3141]

Gorgeous ❤❤❤

[@Wavewolfaroha]

Formal coherence, clarity of polyphony, and IMHO the only successful playing of the block chords as such (as Bach did notate them) combine with beauty of tone, good tempo, and humility in the performance of especially great music (yes, I can HEAR this!) to make this a stellar listening experience. Thank you so much! This is my favorite movement of all the Bach solo cello suites because of the wide margin of interpretive possibilities: this also presents a challenge to decide on how I want to share what I think and feel when performing it.

[@MnOrchViolist]

Thank you so much!

[@christinehaa8]

wow what an astute observation 😳

[@j28ef]

Absolutely heartfelt and beautiful! I am learning this now and you have my favorite interpretation of this piece.

[@MnOrchViolist]

Wow, thank you. Have fun learning it! 👍

[@PTMViola]

Wise words! Greetings!

[@mariadocarmojanuario846]

Bravo!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@MichaelDurig1]

excellent! Really enjoyed it and now am looking up the piece to work on myself. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@MnOrchViolist]

Thank you! I'm sure you'll do great!

[@matiascazon1798]

Bravo, saludos desde Argentina

[@tifffffff3412]

absolutely stunning :D

[@NadiaViolin]

Beautiful 👏👏👏

[@bystroffc]

Please, keep going!

[@MnOrchViolist]

I probably should!

[@elizabetherickson6073]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@MnOrchViolist]

Thanks Elizabeth!

[@jbyork]

That was beautiful!

[@MnOrchViolist]

Thank you!

[@antonioblancocanovas006]

Great performance my daughter is listening to you in order to learn it because she has an exam at the en of May in the music school.

[@MnOrchViolist]

Thank you! Good luck to her!

[@wwilt01]

Very beautiful! Music for eternity..

[@1976DSCH]

Superbe!

[@cellokid5104]

Tasteful

[@nickrotterdam]

Emozionante.. go violas go!!!!

[@nonaleedong4234]

This is my favourite movement of this suite. I particularly like the way you played the ending. Where is this filmed. Thank you, this was very inspiring for me.

[@MnOrchViolist]

Thank you so much! I filmed this in the lobby of Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis where I work.

[@suzukiselina]

@@MnOrchViolist it would be a great story if you were a clerk or a cleaner and you are playing here before anybody arrives, but I suspect you are a member of the professional orchestra. Thank you for this, it was so elegant and balanced, and I am going to send it to my student for inspiration.

[@MnOrchViolist]

@@suzukiselina Yes, I am a member of the Minnesota Orchestra. I went into the hall when it was shut down due to COVID. The stage was locked, so I used the lobby. Thanks for listening and your kind words!

[@umalilia]

@@MnOrchViolist omg no way i performed there so many times and didn’t realize that’s where you were!! brings back so many memories

[@MnOrchViolist]

@@umalilia Haha, are you from Minnesota then?

[@DevilViolinist]

A very very very beautiful sound! I hear a lovely combination of your technique, expression and musical ideas, and the viola itself. May I ask the maker of your viola? I think it suits you perfectly! I'd be interested to see what sounds you could get out of an Amati, Da Salo or Guadagnini but most importantly I think this viola is truly your voice and you know how to get it to communicate your ideas to us :)

[@MnOrchViolist]

Thank you! My viola is a Stanley Kiernoziak 1994, 16.75" I really love it. He's in the Willaim Harris Lee shop in Chicago. Quite affordable too!

[@Wavewolfaroha]

@@MnOrchViolist I love the sound of your instrument, and indeed you have found your voice! Comment in the video description is so telling, and inspiring.

[@hyungkipark]

👍👏👏

[@VladGameStory]

Bravo amazing performance,very inspiring.Can you tel me what is the name of the bow grip that you are using ?

[@MnOrchViolist]

I'm not sure what you mean by bow grip? French, I guess?

[@ritanmartinez8630]

Beautiful phrasing - do you use any particular edition? I'm trying to find a good edition with bowing like this. Thanks!

[@MnOrchViolist]

Try the International Edition by Leonard Davis

[@떡볶이사랑해-d5d]

이노래는 정말 해석하기가 너무 어렵습니다… 😢 얼만큼 표현해야할지 절제해야할지 모르겠어요

[@MnOrchViolist]

Every interpretation is personal. Don't worry about what is "right", just do what you feel. Good luck!

[@jmcboyle]

2:11

[@weaponx8356]

Number 10000