“My grandfather was a professional painter, and so were my two uncles. I grew up with different types of art all around me. I especially feel an interest in painting – I still go to museums, I always try to visit at least one museum when I travel. I paint in every free moment. (..) First of all, I’m a cellist, but it’s very important for me to create in different ways, that’s why I’m very passionate about painting and photography,” Colombian cellist Santiago Canyon-Valencia tells in an interview with Anna Weisman, who on September 23 at the “Cēsis” concert hall as part of the “Cello Cēsis” festival together with The Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Andras Pogas, will play Kamil Sensāns’s First Cello Concerto in Laminar Op. 33.
Santiago Cajon-Valencia is a vibrant soloist, composer, commissioning artist, recording artist, painter and photographer. “Technically flawless,” as he is described The Strad. of 2022 BBC Next Generation the artist was born in Bogotá in 1995 and made his debut as a soloist in the orchestra at the age of six together with the Bogotá Philharmonic. He has become an accomplished musician, hailed as “an artist whose sound and texture flow with ease and authenticity” (The Whole Note) and “one of the most promising young cellists” (Forbes Colombia). He is a laureate of many prestigious cello competitions and has already played with excellent orchestras and excellent conductors, including Andri Poga.
Anna Veismane: Have you already played music with conductor Andri Poga? Was it with the South German Radio Symphony Orchestra?
Santiago Canyon-Valencia: Yes, we played Sensāns’ cello concerto in Stuttgart and I am happy to play it again in Latvia.
I saw you playing in an old video when you were only six years old. How did you start playing the cello so early?
I come from a family of musicians, so it’s natural: although the desire to play was my choice, I didn’t feel any pressure, my family supported me a lot. My mom is a cellist and also a first teacher. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to play solo with orchestras early on.
What are the educational opportunities for young musicians in Colombia? Are there good music schools, or is the training more individual?
Yes, we have conservatories and now new initiatives like youth academies or youth orchestras. When I was a kid, there were only conservatories – there weren’t that many opportunities at first level. Therefore, my education until the age of ten was privately with Henryk Zarzycki and my mother. After that I started traveling a lot. So that my experience has developed wider not only in Colombia.
You have participated in countless competitions: have they been a stepping stone to an international career?
Yes, as with many musicians, contests help to launch a professional career. My first big competition was at the age of 11, and then more and more – Tchaikovsky, Carlos Prieto, Casal competitions, but then I felt that it was enough. Now I am happy [vienkārši] make music – play your cello and travel.
What tool do you have? During the test, I noticed that it has a sensitive and at the same time very resonant sound.
It is a new instrument: the American builder Wayne Burak built it in 2007, but it was adapted for me by my Colombian friend Alessandro Alveri.
How to create your own special cello voice? What sound are you going for?
Each cellist has his own way of playing and his own relationship with sound. The most important thing is the tool that suits you. Technically, you can play on any cello, but we know very well that there are special cellos, special bows, which we feel as our own. And getting your own sound is huge! I’m happy that my cello responds to what I want to do, because I hear the sound in my head first, and then I send it through the cello to the audience.
You also compose and paint, and you are also passionate about photography. How do you connect these creative spheres?
My interest in visual arts comes from childhood: my grandfather was a professional painter, as were my two uncles. I grew up with all kinds of art around me. I am especially interested in painting – I still go to museums, I always try to visit at least one museum when I travel. I paint in every free moment. Just before the trip to Latvia, I played two concerts in Colombia from my latest album Ascenso, for which I created a stage design with my paintings. It was a concert and an exhibition at the same time… First of all, I am a cellist, but it is very important for me to create in different ways, so I am very fond of painting and photography.
What about composition? Do you write mostly for yourself – solo cello?
Writing to myself, yes. Composing became my interest relatively recently, much later than visual art. This is still something new for me, but I like to experiment: I also write for cello and electronics – I also do that in my spare time.
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2023-09-23 04:00:26
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