Lynn Harrell, Stephen Paulus and the Grand Tetons - listen to the world premiere performance!

08.24.09
Lynn Harrell
Minnesota Public Radio

Teton Village, WY — Donald Runnicles initially requested a violin concerto from composer Stephen Paulus to be performed at the final concerts of the Grand Teton Music Festival. But later he changed his mind since the great American virtuoso cellist, Lynn Harrell, expressed interest in a new showcase work.

A lot of good ideas begin to take on a life of their own once the actual work starts, and this piece is no exception. Paulus says he had envisioned a three movement - fast-slow-fast - concerto, but soon found the third scherzo movement too short and quirky to act as the finale.

So he took on a whole new challenge of writing a slow and more contemplative movement to end the almost 30-minute concerto - and to top it off, the concerto would finish pianissimo.

While there would be no huge explosive ending that would bring the audience to its feet, as Paulus points out, "There's more than one way to show off a soloist. How about gorgeous, lyrical high notes? After all, it's possible to 'knock 'em over with a feather."

And 'knock 'em over' just about describes the premiere of this new concerto at the Grand Teton Music Festival; a work the soloist says "is like a revitalization of my musical existence."