When it comes to listening to music, Morgan Leary's strongest recollection is listening to Elgar's Cello Concerto.
“My grandfather owned a classical record store in Auckland in the 1960s. And my grandmother played the double bass in the junior orchestra. So it was kind of expected that you had an appreciation for Elgar in my household,” she said.
Elizabeth Patchett and Morgan Leary Photo: Stephen A/Court / Joseph Leary
Leary credits the classical tradition with helping her develop an ear for other musical genres.
“Being raised on Elgar, and also being allowed to listen to Jimi Hendrix at the same time, means I have a real appreciation for high and low in the same sphere.”
Although Leary grew up playing cello, her repertoire has diverged from classical music in recent years. Nowadays she plays guitar and bass and sings in a few different bands, including Auckland group Kathy Bates Motel.
Jacqueline du Pre in rehearsal with NZBC in September 1970 Photo: Tom Shanahan / NZSO
But Elgar’s Concerto has kept its hold on her, especially the 1967 recording of the concerto by a legendary musician.
“Honestly, after seeing that incredible black and white film version of Jacqueline Du Pre and Daniel Barenboim's version of the Cello Concerto- that's rock n’ roll stardom,” said Leary.
NZSO violinist Elizabeth Patchett agrees.
“There's a lovely story of [Jacqueline du Pre] when she was very young," said Patchett, "She was playing in a competition and she was running down a corridor with a big smile on her face, and a member of the public said, 'Oh, have you just finished playing?' And she said, 'No, I'm just about to play'.
"She had that wonderful attitude as a performer. That the composer has given you these beautiful notes and you decide what to do with them. You give those notes to the audience.”
Jacqueline du Pre came to Aotearoa in September 1970. She played with the NZBC Symphony Orchestra, as the NZSO was known then, in the Wellington Town Hall, performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto No 1 and Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor. Excerpts from that performance are featured in this episode of Crescendo with the kind assistance of Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision.
NZSO violinist Elizabeth Patchett. Photo: NZSO
It's also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts or any good podcast app.
Crescendo is voiced by RNZ Concert’s Clarissa Dunn with sound mix by Marc Chesterman. It was written and produced by Noelle McCarthy from an original concept by Bird of Paradise.
Photo: Bird Of Paradise Productions
