 "HE
COULD EVEN PLAY THE CELLO WITH AN UMBRELLA"
Professor Harry Wimmer at one time worked with McCartney
and
Sinatra --His roots in Vienna
Photo Caption: Enriches the SRIMF with his Viennese Charm-
Cellist and Multitalent Harry Wimmer
Sulzbach - Rosenberg (aks) The professors and students of the Sulzbach - Rosenberg
International
Music Festivals (SRIMF) come from many different countries. The charm department
of
true Viennese "Schmalz" is supplied by Harry Wimmer, responsible at the
festival for the coaching
of
Anton Arensky's Trio in d minor for Piano, Violin and Cello.
Mr.Wimmer's
knowledge of German has obviously survived intact during the long years since he
left
Austria
An intensive immersion into the work of Goethe may have refreshed his knowledge,
explains
the
many-sided musician in his interview with the SRZ.
The
roots of his career were found in Vienna, though on the piano.There he studied with
a "very old
lady
who had still performed in the Brahms Circle." Nevertheless, he decided in
favor of the cello.
Reaching
the U.S. via England, he studied cello at the famous Juilliard School with the renowned
Professor
Leonard Rose.
There
followed a highly successful career as soloist, conductor and teacher. "Music
fascinates me.
Pablo
Casals was my role model," says the cellist who, going beyond that, shows great
interest in
"unusual
ventures." Because he finds the normal concert atmosphere too stiff, he has
developed
new
formats including, for instance, acting skits and show biz interludes.
He
enjoys arranging other instrumental works for cello, such as the Clarinet Sonata
by Brahms, or
experimenting
with sound effects on the elecric cello. On the "cutting edge" musically,
he has
collaborated
with the likes of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Frank Sinatra and Liza Minelli.
As
if this were not enough: Harry Wimmer is author of the teaching series, "The
Joy of Cello
Playing,"
gave a radio series titled "Cellist's Notebook" in the USA, offers technical
tips on his cello
website,
is planning a book on the cellist Grützmacher.The conductor Sidney Harth, world
fanous
violin
virtuoso violinist and Grandseigneur of the SRIMF, contributed a compliment that
sums up
Mr.
Wimmer's talent and knowledge: " He could even play the cello with an umbrella."
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