New album

Gareth Farr | Edward Elgar

Throughout the process of shaping and rediscovering the concertos of Farr and Elgar, my performances became imbued with a duty of remembering and a unique approach that allowed me to mirror these two concertos.

The styles of the two works are very different, but there are similarities in their musical forms: they start and end with an emblematic theme and feel like ritual works – almost requiems. They are universal in scope and rooted in personal dramas connected to the First World War. Elgar was deeply affected by the slaughter in the trenches – at night he could hear the shelling from France from his house in Fittleworth, West Sussex – and may have been thinking of the death in battle of his ex-fiancée Helen Weaver’s son when he started work on the concerto. He completed it in 1919, when the Spanish flu continued to claim many young people’s lives. It was to be his final large-scale work.

Gareth Farr composed his concerto in memory of his three great-granduncles who were all killed in the Great War. Farr completed his concerto two days before the birth of my daughter Stella, in March 2017, and gave me an incredible gift by incorporating the name S.T.E.L.L.A. (E flat–B–E–A–A–A) into the final cadence, which symbolically represents HOPE.

At 100 years apart these two concertos are the testimony of the tragic years 1914–1918. But where there is life, hope is always reborn.

"The concerto was movingly conveyed by the persistent passion and poetry of soloist Sebastien Hurtaud."

About

Sébastien Hurtaud is a French cellist born in La Rochelle into a family of music lovers and a brother who is a lyric tenor. Vibrating, transmitting, travelling and creating are at the heart of the young cellist's career. As a soloist and chamber musician, he travels the world invited by major orchestras and festivals and also shares the stage with his pianist wife Paméla Hurtado in a duo.

Trained at the Paris Conservatoire in the class of JM Gamard and Michel Strauss, then at the Royal Northern College of Music with Karine Georgian, his playing is inspired by these two great cello schools.
Influenced by the world of opera, it is at the Monnaie opera house that he made his first steps as guest solo cellist but very quickly turned to a career as a soloist.

His latest performances with prestigious orchestras have allowed him to meet new audiences in many countries and to affirm a career in full expansion. We have heard him in Richard Strauss' Don Quixote with the Katowice orchestra, Gulda's concerto with the Bratislava Philharmonic, Dvorak's concerto with the Metz orchestra, Elgar's concerto with the New Zealand National orchestra, Jacques Offenbach's Military concerto with the Brittany orchestra, Boccherini's concertos with the Panama City chamber orchestra, the orchestra of the Garde Républicaine at the Invalides, etc...

Winner of major international competitions Naumburg Foundation in New York, Aldo Parisot, Sébastien Hurtaud is the only Frenchman to have won the prestigious Adam cello competition in New Zealand. He then met his mentor, the great German conductor Werner-Andreas Albert, with whom he played Schostakovich's concerto n1 op.107.

The critics were full of praise for the French artist:
“Such expressive playing” (Forbes), “Such passion in his playing” (Gramophone), “A powerful style” (BBC Mag), “Elegant and driven” (Strad Mag), “Sébastien Hurtaud grasps the work with his full hands, as André Navarra once did, a great sound, ample, deep, that says as much as it sings” (Artamag), “The Virtuosity of a Feuerman and the soul of a Rostropovich” (Fanfare Magazine).

"The Soul of a Rostropovish, the Virtuosity of a Feuermann"

Concerts

  1. Festival ISO at Malta
    Mendelssohn, Hindemith Cello sonata
    Bartok: Folk dance, Darius Milhaud: Scaramouche
    With Paméla Hurtado, Piano
    Teatro Manoel, Valleta
  2. Nocturne de l'Aude
    Recital Cello & Piano Beethoven Sonatas
    With Pieter-Jelle Deboer, Piano
    Paris, France
  3. One Man Cello
    Palais des Congrès, Lyon, France
    CANCELED
  4. Academie du Grand Nancy
    Master-class & recital
    Vincennes, France
    More Information
  5. Nocturne de l'Aude
    Recital Cello & Piano Beethoven Sonatas
    With Pieter-Jelle Deboer, Piano
    Paris, France
    Postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic
  6. Alfredo de St Malo Festival
    Recital Cello & Organ
    Panama City, Panama
    Postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic
  7. Pandemic concert
    World Premiere of the new cello & piano piece composed by Scott Ordway
    Youtube/Instagram video
    From Paris and Philadelphia live broadcast
  8. New Album released
    Sebastien Hurtaud New Album Elgar/Farr cello concertos released by Rubicon classics With Ben Northey, Conductor,
    NZSO,
    Label Rubicon Classics

    Postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic
  9. Festival ISO at Malta
    Recital All Beethoven cello sonatas
    With Pieter-Jelle Deboer, Piano
    Teatro Manoel, Valleta
  10. Video "Making Of" of the disc Elgar/Farr
    Interviews/recital filmed
    Hôtel Renaissance, Paris, France
  11. "One Man cello"
    Solo recital
    Monfort-Lamaury, France
  12. "Tribute ceremony" to David Kessler
    Solo Cello
    Cimetière du Montparnasse, Paris, France
    More Information
  13. Festival de Calonge
    Trio recital
    Calonge, Spain
    More Information
  14. Philarmonie de La Rochelle
    Recital Cello & Piano With Paméla Hurtado, Piano
    Temple Protestant, La Rochelle, France
    More Information
  15. USA Tour
    With the Southern Minnesota Symphonic Orchestra,
    St Louis, Missouri, USA
  16. OffenBach Concerto
    With the Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne,
    Sergio Alapont, Conductor
    Eglise Saint-André, Ploemel, France
  17. Rencontre Musicale d’Enghiens
    With Olivier Roberti,
    Liana Gourdjia
    Enghiens, Belgium
  18. Festival Offenbach d'Etretat
    With Paméla Hurtado, Piano
    Eglise Notre-Dame d'Etretat, Etretat, France
  19. Opus 74
    Master-class & Concerts
    Flaine, France
    More Information
  20. Récital Violoncelle/Piano
    With Paméla Hurtado, Piano
    Australian Embassy, Paris, France
  21. Duo violoncelles
    With Alexandre Lacour, Cello
    Eglise Ste Cécile d'Acquigny, France
  22. Les musicales de Redon
    Offenbach Concerto
    With the Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne,
    Sergio Alapont, Conductor
    Théâtre du Pays de Redon, Redon, France
  23. Interview in a radio show
    RCF Lyon, Bicentenaire d'Offenbach
    Lyon, France
    Listen
  24. Violin/cello recital
    Théâtre Anita Villalaz, Panama City, Panama
  25. Festival "Alfredo de Panama"
    Pour célébrer les 500 ans du Panama
    Panama City, Panama
  26. Cello/piano Recital
    Conservatoire Supérieur National d’Athènes, Greece
  27. Concert violoncelle Solo
    Organisé par le Lion’s Club d’Albert
    Eglise d'Albert, Hauts-de-France, France
  28. Concertos Record
    Concertos pour violoncelle de Sir Edward Elgar et Gareth Farr
    With Orchestre National de Nouvelle Zélande,
    Benjamen Northey, Conductor
    Label Rubicon classic
    Wellington, New Zealand
  29. Les rencontres Musicales de Saint Ulrich
    Trio de Rachmaninoff n°2
    Trio Archiduc de Beethoven
    With Lana Trovtosek, Violon,
    Paméla Hurtado, Piano
    Sarrebourg, France
  30. Jacques Offenbach Concerto
    With the « Philharmonies des deux Mondes » Orchestra,
    Philippe Hui, Conductor
    Eglise St Guénolé, St Nazaire, France
  31. Jacques Offenbach Concerto
    With the « Philharmonies des deux Mondes » Orchestra,
    Philippe Hui, Conductor
    Théâtre des Petits Moulins, St Nazaire, France
  32. Jacques Offenbach Concerto
    With the « Philharmonies des deux Mondes » Orchestra,
    Philippe Hui, Conductor
    Eglise de Trescalan, St Nazaire, France
  33. Concert tour
    Richard Strauss, Don Quixote
    With the Filharmonica Slaska,
    the Picardie Symphonic Orchestra,
    Arie van Beek, Conductor,
    Léa Hennino, Viola
    Soissons, France
  34. Concert tour
    Richard Strauss, Don Quixote
    With the Filharmonica Slaska,
    the Picardie Symphonic Orchestra,
    Arie van Beek, Conductor,
    Léa Hennino, Viola
    Amiens, France
  35. Concert tour
    Richard Strauss, Don Quixote
    With the Filharmonica Slaska,
    the Picardie Symphonic Orchestra,
    Arie van Beek, Conductor,
    Léa Hennino, Viola
    Katowice, Poland
  36. Private Concert
    Cello and Chamber Music
    Institut Culturel Mexicain, Roma, Italy
  37. Master-Class
    Cello and Chamber Music
    Conservatoire de musique, La Rochelle, France
  38. Master-Class & Concert
    Panama City, Panama
  39. Concert
    Funsicopa orchestre de chambre
    Oeuvre de Boccherini, Servais, Schubert, Elizondo, Igert
    Victor Mata, Conductor
    Musée du Canal du Panama, Panama City, Panama
  40. Jacques Offenbach Concerto
    With the « Philharmonies des deux Mondes » Orchestra,
    Philippe Hui, Conductor
    Théâtre Jean-Bart, St Nazaire, France
  41. Enregistrement Vidéo du projet « Mémoire de Paix »
    Alexis Pautler, Director
    With Paméla Hurtado, Piano
    Australian Embassy, Paris, France
  42. Séance d’enregistrement
    Pièce Latines pour violoncelle et piano
    With Paméla Hurtado, Piano
    Studio 7ème ciel, Paris, France
  43. Radio - Le Grand Atelier de Vincent Josse
    Interview et duo pour violoncelle et piano de la pièce « l’Aube de l’Espérance » de Jose Elizondo
    With Paméla Hurtado, Piano,
  44. Hommage à Daria Hovora
    Quintette de Brahms
    With Adam Laloum,
    Gerard Caussé
    Conservatoire National supérieur de Musique, Paris, France
  45. WW1 Commemoration Concert
    E. Elgar "Cello Concerto" & Gareth Farr "Concerto Chemin des Dames"
    With "Garde Républicaine" Symphonic Orchestra,
    Colonel Boulanger, Conductor,
    Daniel Linton, Conductor,
    Cathédrale des Invalides, Paris, France
    More Information
  46. Chamber Music concert
    With Lana Trotovsek, Violin,
    Slovenia
  47. Chamber Music concert
    With Elsa Grether, Violin,
    Hamburg, Germany
  48. Gyzi/Megaron Festival
    With Magda Nikolaïdou, Piano
    Santorini, Greece
    More Information
  49. JS Bach All cello Suite
    Église Saint-Éphrem-le-Syriaque, Paris, France
    More Information
  50. JS Bach All cello Suite
    Église Saint-Éphrem-le-Syriaque, Paris, France
    More Information
  51. JS Bach All cello Suite
    Église Saint-Éphrem-le-Syriaque, Paris, France
    More Information
  52. Opus 74
    Master-class
    Flaine, France
    More Information
  53. Festival Rencontres Musicales de Saint Ulrich
    Dvorak Concerto
    With the Lorraine Orchestra
    Sarrebourg, France
    More Information
  54. Festival Nancyphonie
    Dvorak Concerto
    With the Lorraine Orchestra
    Nancy, France
    More Information
  55. Fado for Cello and Piano
    With Paméla Hurtado, Piano
    Salle Colonne, Paris, France
    More Information
  56. Festival « Alfredo de St Malo »
    Cello/Piano Recital
    With Ricardo Noriega, Piano
    Panama National Library at 3.00 pm
    More Information
  57. Festival « Alfredo de St Malo »
    Master-Class & Concert
    With Paméla Hurtado, Piano
    Panama
    More Information
  58. Elgar cello concerto
    Rehearsal behind closed doors,
    With the Oise Philharmonic Orchestra,
    Thierry Pellicant, Conductor
  59. Festival Musique à La Ferme
    Schubert Trio
    With Elsa Grether, Violin,
    Paméla Hurtado, Piano
    Lançon de Provence, France
    More Information
  60. JS Bach All cello Suite
    Église Saint-Éphrem-le-Syriaque, Paris, France
    More Information
  61. JS Bach All cello Suite
    Église Saint-Éphrem-le-Syriaque, Paris, France
    More Information
  62. Concert consacré aux musiques de Youli Galperine
    With Sergeï Nakariakov, Trumpet,
    Paméla Hurtado, Piano,
    Alexandre Brussilovsky, Violin
    Cathédrale Sainte Trinité, 1 quai Branly, 75017 Paris, France
  63. Duo pour violoncelles d’Offenbach
    With Alexandre Lacour, Cello
    Eglise St Martin de Chevreuse, France
  64. Solo Cello Concerto
    Bach, Cassado, Ligeti, Sollima
    Eglise Sainte Cécile d'Acquigny, France
    More Information
  65. Solo Cello Concerto
    Bach&Friends
    Master-Class de violoncelle du conservatoire de La Rochelle
    La Rochelle, France

Music Education

Most of the time I am invited during my concert tours to give some masterclasses to young professional musicians whom I subsequently support by giving them regular lessons online.

Transmitting music through live or online music lessons has become a real passion and I am building since few month my international online class. To name a few I’m supporting some Chinese, American, Venezuelan, Dutch and French cello students to present the Juillard School , Yale University, Oberlin College, Lyon National Conservatory but also some orchestral auditions. Recently a duet cello and piano with whom I worked, entered in the chamber music class at the National Superior Conservatoire of music at Lyon.
I realized that today, countless videos exist on the Internet to promote self-taught music learning in the form of tutorials, but which ultimately leave the learner totally alone. Nothing beats a real musical exchange, even online.

Do not hesitate to contact me.
Looking forward to meet you!


Please click on thumbnails to enlarge pictures and videos.

"Sebastien is a cellist to watch because he has his own style of performance, a high level of imagination, and a combinaison of elegance and drive"

Media

Listen the playlist which contains some Hurtaud's records, or enjoy a selection of his best photos and videos.


Gareth Farr Cello concerto
NZSO
Hamish Mc Keith

Elgar Concerto
OGR
François Boulanger

Dvorak concerto
ONM
Jacques Mercier

Don Quichotte
Slaska Philarmonic
Arie Van Beek

Gulda Concerto
OPB
Leos Swarovski

Saint-Saëns
Etretat Festival
Paméla Hurtado

Hindemith Cello Works
Paméla Hurtado
 

Haydn in C
NZSO
Antoni Wit

C.Schumann
Blackheath Festival
Trotovsek, Canyigueral

Brahms Quintet
Blackheath Festival
 

Contact

For futher information, please contact:
Sébastien Hurtaud
sebastienhurtaud@hotmail.com
Skype: Sebastiancello
+33 (0) 608 770 738

Artistic Management- USA
Performing Artists International
Artist Manager: Angela Fabry
AFabry@PAIArtists.com
+1 817 924 2225
4417 Dunwick, Suite 300
Fort Worth, Texas 76109-2508 USA

Public Relation
Valerie Barber
Suite 2, 9A
St. John’s Wood High Street
London
NW8 7NG
United Kingdom

Label
Rubicon Classics
info@rubiconclassics.com
+44 (0) 1323 470169

17 Leeward Quay
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN23 5UD
United Kingdom

Crédits Photos : Jerôme Grognet

Making-of disc Elgar Farr : Alexis Pautler