Tag Archives: Santiago Cañón Valencia

The Man Behind the Cello

Just before the commencement of his recent Melbourne tour I had the opportunity to film an exclusive interview with world renowned Cellist, Columbian born Santiago Cañón Valencia  at the Tolarno Hotel in St Kilda. The next day I saw him perform at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

Under any circumstances this young man is a standout.  At 19 years old he is already a veteran of the world stage, playing with some of the best Symphony Orchestras from across the globe from the age of 6!.

With an impressive array of accolades Santiago is a well polished, disciplined musician who was born into a gifted musical family all of whom play classical and his teachers were carefully chosen.  But does anyone really know the source of this kind of musical presence?

I’ve seen many of the worlds best performers do their thing. Santiago is something else altogether.

He plays the Cello as a Maestro. When he is playing, one’s eyes are firmly fixed on him and his ring clad fingers. His playing is ethereal, hypnotic and transportive. His physical appearance conjures gothic images of past worlds. If I had to draw on a contemporary romantic parallel to describe Santiago’s appearance in the flesh, who springs to mind are the beloved characters from Ann Rice’s sizzling novel Interview with a Vampire. But of course, that is only fantasy and Santiago is very human, very gracious, and a very talented young virtuoso.

Lady Marigold Southey, champion of the arts in association with Skyhigh Promotions delivered Santiago to our shores to give us a taste of what is to come from this unique and enigmatic musician.

My lasting impression is Santiago Cañón Valencia is classical music’s equivalent to a Rock God.

The release of our forthcoming filmed interview with Santiago Canon Valencia by gifted Melbourne pianist 15 year old Spencer Harris titled ‘The Man Behind the Cello’ is coming soon so stay posted…

Melbourne pianist Spencer Harris and Santiago Canon Valencia at Tolarno Hotel St Kilda Melbourne. Image by Megagraphics Photography
Melbourne pianist Spencer Harris and Santiago Canon Valencia at Tolarno Hotel St Kilda Melbourne. Image by Megagraphics Photography

 

 

Santiago Cañón Valencia – Win 2 tickets!

Lady Southey, AC is proudly launching her signature series of concerts with the incredible Santiago Cañón Valencia. Having been hailed by critics as “a phenomenon” and “without doubt already one of the finest cellists on the world stage today”, the young virtuoso cellist Santiago, has established himself as one of the most exciting, emerging musical talents.

Santiago Cañón Valencia (born May 9, 1995 in Bogotá, Cundinamarca) is a Colombian cellist. He comes from a family of musicians (his father is a clarinetist of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra and his sister is a violinist). His mother started teaching him cello when he was 4 years old. When he was still 6 years old, in 2002, he gave his first concert with the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra. He has played with the world’s best ever since.

Santiago is returning to Australia for some concert performances, to kick start this wonderful program. Marigold’s philosophy has always taken pride in nurturing talent and promoting the art of performance. Skyhigh Promotions has developed this new platform, which is named after Marigold Southey, for her continued commitment to the arts in general and young people specifically; in an effort to reach out to artists at an early point in their burgeoning careers. Artists will include young, up & coming opera singers, musicians and chamber ensembles amongst others.

Santiago will be performing alongside the Strings of the newly formed Melbourne Sinfonietta, led by Roger Jonsson, the outstanding Concertmaster who co-led the Melbourne Ring Orchestra in 2013. Roger Jonsson has held regular positions in nearly all of Sweden’s leading orchestras, including the Swedish Radio Symphony, the Baroque Orchestra, Stockholm’s New Chamber Orchestra and the Stockholm Sinfonietta. Roger has performed in many tours throughout Sweden and Europe. Roger is currently OV’s Concertmaster.

Santiago has performed concertos with orchestras in Colombia, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Africa, United States, Canada and Hungary. Recently, he was invited to perform Haydn in C Major Cello Concerto with the Moscow Soloists and Yuri Bashmet as conductor, in Bogota, Colombia. He has also been a guest artist several times at the Cartagena International Music festival and in 2015, he will play with the Mahler Chamber Soloists at the same festival.

“Santiago possesses a musical maturity that is way beyond his years. His technical precision is quite staggering and he is without doubt already one of the finest cellists on the world stage today.”      Adam Chalabi, Melbourne, October 2012, Elgar Cello Concerto with the Orchestra Victoria

“Playing the Shostakovich First Concerto, Valencia proved to be a phenomenon.”

William Dart, New Zealand Herald, March 2011

‘TO WIN’ a double ticket giveaway to see Santiago Canon perform at The Salon – Melbourne Recital Centre on the 7 April 2015 be the first to ring Kerrie on 0423 308 005 and tell me Santiago’s current age.

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 Santiago Canon Tour Dates:

Tuesday 7th April

The Salon – Melbourne Recital Centre Tickets available from: www.melbournerecital.com.au

Thursday 9th April

The Capital, Bendigo Tickets available from: www.thecapital.com.au or
03) 5434 6100

Friday 10th April

Kantor Music & Performing Arts Centre, Hamilton

Tickets available from: www.trybooking.com/GMUB