News Archive (2011) << Newer Items (2012) | Older Items (2010) >> 
Message uploaded on December 23, 2011, 10:30. Traditional baroque concert in Blitzingen On December 29 at 18:00 I will play with Silvia Nowak (harpsichord and recorders), Bernard Maillard (tenor) and my wife Paula Novoa (violin) in Blitzingen's church the traditional baroque concert. This concert has enjoyed a lot of success over the past years and I would be very happy to see you attending this year's concert. On the program are works by J.C. Schickhardt ("Folia"), cantatas by Telemann and Buxtehude, the famous Halvorsen-Arrangement of the Haendel-Passacaglia, selected movements from Bach's Viola-da-Gamba-Sonatas and at the end a christmas song for everybody to sing along. Entrance is free but a donation will be asked at the end of the concert. What's really great about this concert in Blitzingen is the free apero that takes place right after it and is free for everybody who attended the concert. Merry christmas and happy new year to all my numerous visitors on this website and I hope to see you soon at a concert!
Message uploaded on November 7, 2011, 21:05. New on this website: Articles In the new section "Articles" I will add irregularly new texts, which are hopefully helpful and interesting for young performers and for concert goers. Please email me your thoughts and also questions you would like to see answered in that section. (The section is in german but there's no problem to send me a question in English. Multiple languages would make the section even better.)
Message uploaded on November 1, 2011, 17:15. Press reviews: Darmstädter Echo: "Technisch gewandt und mit starker Intensität"  "Der Schweizer Cellist Sebastian Diezig steuerte eine gemäßigt moderne Kostbarkeit bei: „La Folia“ für Cello solo von dem 1962 in Palermo geborenen Giovanni Sollima. Nach barockem Muster werden über einem ständig wiederholten Bassmotiv Variationen entwickelt, wobei die Tonsprache sich vom tonalen Zentrum behutsam entfernt. Der Cellist vertiefte sich technisch gewandt und mit starker Intensität in die einfallsreichen Verwandlungen, in raschem Wechsel streichend und zupfend – eine von den Zuhörern im Parktheater Bensheim mit besonders kräftigem Beifall bedachte Leistung." Read entire article...
Bergsträsser Anzeiger: "Diezig voller Bravour und mit eindrucksvoller Gestaltung" "La Folia" greift die barocke Form einer ständig wiederholten Bassmelodie auf, über der sich Variationen entwickeln. Aus spieltechnischen Gründen mussten hierbei die beiden tiefen Saiten oktaviert auf den Ton G eingestimmt werden. Darüber entwickelten sich Variationen ganz unterschiedlichen Charakters. Sebastian Diezig meisterte die Vielzahl an technischen Schwierigkeiten voller Bravour und glänzte mit eindrucksvoller Gestaltung." Read original article...
Message uploaded on October 7, 2011, 14:30. Dear friends, here is the latest news: 
1. Video "La Folia" online - a special solo piece by Giovanni Sollima For my interpretation of Giovanni Sollimas "La Folia" I received the special price for the best compulsory piece performance at the Zagreb International Cello Competition "Antonio Janigro" 2008. I was honored by Giovanni Sollima who gave me the price himself. Last week's concert in Neuchâtel was a good opportunity to finally record this work for Youtube. While I know that the world was fine without me uploading this video to Youtube, I still find this piece to be very cool and original with its sound mix of baroque, popy, rocky, jazzy and irish sounds. On top of that is the very unusual scordatura which gives the cello this double bass sound. Enjoy the recording and leave your comments right under the video on youtube or on my website in the guestbook. 
2. Charity concert in Neuchâtel: 1125 Frs - thanks for your generosity! The concert in favour the foundation Mail Mali with the "Cellomaniacs" Yoël Cantori, Mattia Zappa and me in Neuchâtel was successful. Thanks to the generous audience we were able to raise 1125 Swiss Francs. Thanks to everybody! It was fun to play for you! 3. Press article about the "Cellomaniacs" in Bensheim online The Bergsträsser Anzeiger brought a nice article on our appearance tomorrow in Bensheim. This is the first time the local concert promoter "Kunstfreunde Bensheim" has such a formation on their program. If you're in the region: It pays off to come. There will be something for every taste. The press article can be read here.
Message uploaded on September 9, 2011, 13:00. 
"Cello-Mania" with three Cello Maniacs in Neuchâtel (CH) and Bensheim (D)
My two very good friends, the excellent cellists Mattia Zappa and Yoël Cantori, share with me first and foremost the love and passion for cello playing. One could say that we are obsessed. So why not team up for a cello-manic concert? That's exactly what we did. In Neuchâtel (October 2) and Bensheim (October 8) you can see and hear how we play Bach's first Sonata for Viola da Gamba on three cellos, how I tune my C string down to G for a great solo piece by Sollima and much more. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
All details with dates, place and time here.
Message uploaded on: August 5, 2011, 14:00. Press article: "Cello Meeting with two hungarian Giants"
Follow this link to read the article (in german only) that Christian Berzins wrote for the "Aargauer Zeitung" of July 21, 2011. I thank Mr. Berzins for the kind permission to upload it on this website.
 Message uploaded on July 29, 2011 at 19:45
New Videos: Veress and Kodaly Solo Sonatas
On the Video Page - my own little Digital Concert Hall - you can now watch the Live Videos from the hungarian solo recital in Aarau. I am very happy with the results. Also watch the two introduction videos where I comment shortly on the music. Enjoy! I would also like to thank everybody who showed up to the concert, the venue was packed! 
Message uploaded on June 23, 2011 at 14:30 Don't miss it: Veress and Kodaly Solo Sonatas in Aarau
Let me start the buzz for the next big concert! On July 21 at 7pm in Aarau, Golattikeller (Golattenmattgasse 37, 5000 Aarau), I am going to play the solo cello sonatas by Sandor Veress (1907-1992) and Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967). This is a very interesting program because Sandor Veress was a student of Kodaly. But there is much more to say - much more than we have space and time here and now: As one would expect, Veress' music sounds more modern or let's call it future oriented while Kodaly has his beautiful, romantic sound ideal. Both composers have in common this strong hungarian folk music background which led them to build their whole compositions around popular hungarian tunes (very much like Bartok for those who know him ;-) ).
The other thing that both compositions have in common is the high requirements to the players technique as well as his memory for there is a lot of virtuosic music and polyphony and counterpoint. As far as counterpoint is concerned: the first time I heard the fuga at the end of Veress' first movement I was mesmerized. Perhaps a pianist will be less impressed because he can play virtually on up to ten fingers and ten notes at the same time. But on a cello with its only four strings and true polyphony only being possible with two notes at once it is amazing, what Veress' imagination has brought to the cello repertoire with this sonata. Perhaps the best counterpoints on solo cello since the Bach Suites. So I highly recommend it.
Kodaly on the other hand requests to tune the two lowest cello strings half a tone lower each to enable a whole new range of harmonies. A very beautiful piece!
This concert is clearly a great challenge for me which I am looking forward to and I hope I can share it with as many people in the audience as possible. I also plan to give short comments on the music so I think it will be a fun experience for everyone.
The entrance is 10 Swiss francs which is not a lot plus there will be a "Kollekte" at the end. Hope to see you there! Sincerly yours, Sebastian Diezig. Where, when, who?
Message uploaded on May 31, 2011 at 11:00 Barrière Cello Duet and Schubert String Quintet in Basel
After some time I finally update the news section with a concert announcement for Basel, Switzerland.
On June 15, 2011 at 18h in Museum Kleines Klingental Basel is going to take place an evening with Jean-Baptiste Barrière's Cello Sonata No. 10 and the famous String Quintet with two cellos in C-Major by Franz Schubert (1797-1828). This Schubert quintet is an important work in the history of chamber music as it is not so frequent to have two cellos in a string quintet. There are several places where Schubert lets the two cellos sing together. I believe this is done in such a beautiful way that it will not just please die-hard friends of the cello.
The other composer of the evening, Barrière (1707-1747), was a cellist himself and therefore knew he too how to take advantage of the instrument. The duet that we will play has a first movement with serene singing, a quasi recitativo middle movement in g-minor and a brilliant virtuosic last movement. It is a beautiful piece.
Akiko Hasegawa, Anja Wobak-Eder, Ria Wolff-Schabenberger, and Judith Gerster will share the stage with me. The entrance is free, by the way. Where, when, who?
Message uploaded: 24.3.2011 at 10h30 Lunch concert with Kodaly Solo Sonata in Fribourg
On April 1 at 12h15 I will play hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly's highly interesting cello solo sonata in Fribourg in Centre le Phénix (Rue des Alpes 7). This piece is tremendously virtuose and therefore very spectacular to say the least. Kodaly makes sure he uses virtually all available (well sounding) techniques modern cello playing has to offer. It starts with the different tuning of the cello (A-D-F#-B instead of the usual A-D-G-C) which is in itself already a magnifiicent harmony and doesn't end with virtuoso double stops. During the approximately 30 mins of the composition you will hear continuosely Hungary's beautiful folklore music written down and enhanced through master harmizations by Kodaly. I am looking forward to play this concert. Entrance is free, donations can be made at the end of the concert ("Kollekte"). Who, when, where?
Message uploaded on: 28.2.2011, 15:00. First sample of Joachim Jesse's Cello Duets
Beat Feigenwinter and I recorded on February 26 for the swiss composer Joachim Jesse a selection of 25 from his well over 100 cello duets. I define Jesse's musical language somewhere between rock music, impressionism and Eric Satie. On the video page you can watch his cello duet no. 2. The recordings of the other duets will be available on the internet in the near future.
Message uploaded on: 16.2.2011, 14:50. New: Guestbook
Why not leave a short message in the new guestbook?
Message uploaded on: 9.2.2011, 14:30. Live Video of Brahms Trio in B Major now online
I played with Laszlo Fogarassy and Riccardo Bovino in Basel at the Museumsnacht the beautiful Trio op. 8 by Johannes Brahms. We were really well prepared but when we arrived at Magdalenenkappelle where the concert took place I sensed a difficult evening ahead of us. I'll explain why: The chapel was used as a Glühwein-Bar (don't know how to translate that) and therefore people were talking and it was terribly cold in there (it's not easy to play with cold hands). On top of that the lighting was poor as you'll see in the video (difficult to see the music on the stand).
I wasn't sure after the performance if everything went well. But watching the video I was positively surprised, luckily.
Thanks Laszlo for uploading the video on Youtube!
Message uploaded on: 5.2.2011, 18:30. Press: "Young cellist has achieved what many others dream of."
Follow this link to read the portrait (in german only) on Sebastian which Irmgard Lehmann wrote for the "Freiburger Nachrichten" of November 11, 2010. I would like to thank Irmgard Lehmann for the beautiful article and the kind permission to upload it on this website.
Message uploaded on: 21.1.2011, 16:00. New live videos: Haydn Cello Concerto now online
The videos show Sebastian Diezig as a soloist and Laurent Gendre conducting the Fribourg Chamber Orchestra and can be watched on Youtube or more easily on this website in the video section (my own little digital concert hall). I am very thankful to Laurent Gendre, his excellent Orchestra and Daniel Margot for the great concert and the kind permission to upload the footage. Youtube Links:
First mvt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM2F01sp1bE
Second mvt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4eDaxzsbYU
Third mvt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCExOIkF7eE
Message uploaded on: 15.1.2011, 18:15. Newsletter If you enjoy this website you might want to sign up for my new newsletter. Use the form on the contact site to sign up and receive occasionally information on upcoming concerts and other important news around Sebastian Diezig.
Message uploaded on: 7.1.2011, 8:45. Brahms Piano Trio No. 1 in Basel
I am very happy to play again in Basel. During Basel's Museumsnacht on January 21, 2011, in the Münster's Magdalenenkapelle, Glühweinbar, I will team up with violinist Laszlo Fogarassy and pianist Riccardo Bovino in order to play the beautiful B Major piano trio by Johannes Brahms. I have been working a lot with Laszlo and above all with Riccardo over the past years and it's real fun. I think the audience is also going to notice it and that's one big reason I would like to invite you all to come to that concert! Where and when...
Message uploaded on: 3.1.2011, 9:30. 4408 visitors during past year - thank you!
This website had 4408 unique visitors during 2010 which is 12 per day. While I don't know how many visitors other similar sites have I can say that this numbers look very respectable to me. I am thankful for every single visitor and the big interest you show in my work. 2011 is going to be a great year again with many beautiful concerts. This website will always be updated so I think it will pay off to check back once every while. You might also want to recommend this site to people who don't know it yet but might be interested. I hope to see some of you in the audience of my concerts (again). All the best in the new year, thanks for your visits, and kind | 
