Cello mentor Robert Howard on gut strings, sound quality, and the pandemic

“I’m too Baroque for the modern people and too modern for the Baroque people,” says cellist Robert Howard, who has played regularly with both Philharmonia Baroque and San Francisco Symphony, as well as many other ensembles from the Bay Area to Lincoln Center and beyond.

Robert will join us on March 15 to share Bach’s 5th cello suite in our second session of Six Suites in Six Weeks.

Robert’s longtime interest in period instrument performance has informed his playing in many ways, even when he’s playing on modern equipment. By learning how to use the Baroque bow and learning the responsiveness of gut strings, he came to realize how much it’s all about sound quality. “Once you know how it works you can emulate that on any equipment.”

Robert joined AMN founder Lolly Lewis for a Zoom interview recently where he shared his enthusiasm and deep respect for Bach, and he reflected on how Bach sustained him through the pandemic. Take a look and then join us on May 15!