First Prize winner of the inaugural Queen Elisabeth Competition for cello in 2017, French cellist Victor Julien-Laferrière returns to Liège on November 12 and 13 with the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège (OPRL) to perform Elgar's Concerto. He describes the piece as carrying an "immense emotional charge, turned towards an old world, a lost world."
Julien-Laferrière cherishes the memory of his first collaboration with the OPRL in September 2020, despite the sanitary constraints of Covid. The recording of concertos by Martinů and Dvořák under the baton of Gergely Madaras was a "formidable and precious" experience, thanks to the orchestra's expertise in recording.
A year later, in December 2021, he toured with the OPRL to promote the album, particularly highlighting the rarely performed Martinů Concerto. He notes the magnificent acoustics of the Salle Philharmonique, which he enjoyed with an audience this time.
For these upcoming concerts, the new musical director of the OPRL, Lionel Bringuier, will lead the orchestra. Julien-Laferrière has previously shared the stage with him, describing their first collaboration in France last year as a notable "affinity." He notes that Bringuier's background as a cellist informs his approach to the repertoire, especially Elgar's Concerto.
The cellist expresses his fascination with the context in which Elgar composed the concerto, shortly after World War I, which deeply affected him. He views it as a poignant work, rooted in a romantic and post-romantic heritage, contrasting with the more modernist creations of the era, such as those by Schönberg or Hindemith.
He also touches upon the special relationship cellists often have with this work, frequently associated with Jacqueline du Pré and her iconic recording conducted by Daniel Barenboim. For Julien-Laferrière, the concerto represents a form of "companionship" throughout different life stages.
Regarding the pairing with Dutilleux's First Symphony, chosen by Bringuier, Julien-Laferrière is curious, despite no obvious commonalities between the composers. He retains a strong impression from his encounter with Henri Dutilleux and welcomes every opportunity to play his music.
Alongside his cello career, Victor Julien-Laferrière is developing as an orchestral conductor. He describes this dual role not as a balance, but as a "great effervescence" that unfolds in phases, with significant projects in both fields, practiced daily to ensure a deep engagement in each.
As a soloist, he values entrusting himself to a conductor who creates a supportive environment for his free expression. He finds this collaboration relieving and empathetic, allowing him to better grasp the conductor's intentions and fully enjoy the performance, fostering open communication, particularly with Lionel Bringuier.
