Hearing of the death of the great Cellist Lynn Harrell last week reminded of me of a vivid memory from the Moennig days….somewhere near the age of 90…the legendary Cellist and teacher at Curtis ( and teacher of Harrell) decided to finally part with his lifelong companion … the great “Sleeping Beauty” cello by Domenico Montagnana made in Venice 1739. It was a special treat to live with / work on a Cello of that stature ….and eventually when it was ready to show …Mr Cole ( I could never seem to call hm Landy) came in with Lynn Harrell to play it…Harrell was a great, big Linebacker of a man …..and I’ll never forget being 6 feet away from a big, broad World-Class Cellist…. playing a big, broad World-Class Cello …and hearing more sound ( and great sound!) coming from a Cello that I had had my hands on… I remember being forcibly struck…. and my sense of whats possible was enlarged… that is probably the best way any one can be influenced by someone…
