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«Meet the artist» Pablo Ferrández

Artist portrait

Published: 01/07/2025

On 2 August 2025, the Spanish cellist Pablo Ferrández will be performing in Grafenegg together with the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) under the direction of Vasily Petrenko. In the «Stimmungsbilder» concert, he brings not only technical brilliance but also emotional depth to the stage. To get in the mood for the concert, we asked him five questions about his musical career, his sources of inspiration and the special significance of this evening!

«I’m very excited about performing with the EUYO! I think the Shostakovich concerto will benefit from the energy that this talented group of young people will bring to the table, I am looking very much forward to have some fun onstage with them.»

Pablo Ferrández

5 questions to

Pablo Ferrández

In the course of your meteoric rise as a cellist, you have already celebrated numerous impressive successes.

What has been the highlight of your musical career so far?

There are many concerts and projects that felt special, but a couple that quickly comes to mind are my debut at the Hollywood bowl with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic playing Dvorak concerto, and recording the Brahms double with Anne Sophie Mutter, Manfred Honeck and the Czech Philharmonic.

As a fellow of the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation, you work closely with Ms. Mutter musically.

What influenced you most about this collaboration and why?

I have learned, and still am learning a lot from Mutter, she is a big role model for me, one of the most impressive things to see, is how she approaches every concert with fresh eyes and ears, she is open to new and spontaneous things happening on stage and obviously because her elite level of technique and expression she can make that happen. I try to approach all my concerts as well in this direction.

The European Union Youth Orchestra is known for its young, positive energy combined with musical excellence.

What does it mean to you to perform with the EUYO in Grafenegg on August 2nd?

I’m very excited about performing with the EUYO! I think the Shostakovich concerto will benefit from the energy that this talented group of young people will bring to the table, I am looking very much forward to have some fun onstage with them.

European Union Youth Orchestra © Sofija Palurovic

What do you associate with Dmitri Shostakovich's first cello concerto, which you will perform at the Grafenegg Festival?

The first concerto by Shostakovich is an absolute masterpiece, I think is almost impossible not to think of Rostropovich when talking about it, he was involved to some degree with the composition of this piece, pushing the capabilities of the instrument to new unprecedented levels.

First movement is like a machine, crazy energy and it wont stop no matter what. Second movement is incredibly beautiful full of sorrow and images of a cold landscape, very descriptive movement. The cadenza or third movement is quite a unique element of this piece, 7-8 minutes cello solo cadenza with very demanding technical passages that lead to the folkloric 4th movement with hidden melodies and satire. The concerto is a 10/10!

What are you most looking forward to in your collaboration with the European Union Youth Orchestra and Vasily Petrenko, who will conduct the «Stimmungsbilder» concert?

I love Vasily Petrenko, he is one of my favorite conductors, always brings something new to whatever piece we are playing and his interpretations never leave you indifferent and always feel true. We already played the Shostakovich together in London and I cant wait to do it again with the EUYO to see what we can achieve together.