The long awaited debut of the Baverstam Cello Concerto in D Minor has finally arrived!

Cellist-composer Sebastian Baverstam wrote his own concerto to showcase himself as a virtuoso cellist. The work was once dubbed as “Superman Concerto” (after Nietzsche) as if it could only be played with the ability that surpasses human limits.

After winning First Prize Boston Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition at the young age of 17, prodigy cellist Baverstam started his concert touring career. His debut at Carnegie’s Weill recital hall in 2012 led to him revive his passion for composition where he premiered a set of variations for solo cello on the traditional theme Frère Jacques.

“I had poured every ounce of my soul into composing and practicing this concerto; the most difficult cello concerto ever written. I wrote it for myself and I nicknamed it “Superman” because of its difficulty.” Baverstam concerto marked the soloist’s highest artistic reach.

Come enjoy a historic moment in a beautiful setting full of friends making music together. Maestro Max Hobart will lead the Vangarde Symphony Orchestra featuring the Armida Overture by Haydn and the Baverstam Cello Concerto in d minor.

Masks are required at this event

Read more about Sebastian and the concerto:

https://www.classical-scene.com/2022/04/10/really-big-concerto/

Time: Saturday, May 28th 2022 at 3:00 P.M.

Location: Church of the Covenant on Newbury Street, 67 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116

Transportation: Green line Copley station or Orange line Back Bay

Parking: Street parking available or parking garages nearby including Boston Common Garage

Program:

Haydn Armida Overture (6:00")

Baverstam Cello Concerto in d minor (42:00")

Max Hobart has an extensive reputation as both a violinist and a conductor. His nearly 30 year tenure with the Boston Symphony Orchestra included being Assistant Concertmaster of BSO, and Concertmaster of the Boston Pops under both Arthur Fiedler and John Williams. For 10 years he was a guest conductor of the Boston Pops. Max’s conducting activities outside the BSO were centered on the Boston Civic Symphony as Music Director and Conductor, with performances at NEC’s Jordan Hall for more than 25 years.

Max Hobart is a longtime admirer and colleague of Sebastian and his family, and is especially excited to be part of this memorable collaboration.

Leading an active musical life in different genres of the industry, Sebastian Bäverstam is a classical cellist, pianist, and composer as well as a librettist, improviser, and conductor. In his spare time he plays video games which he sometimes streams online, as well as invents board games and plays poker. 

Sebastian grew up in Newton, MA, and studied music seriously from a young age. He performed extensively in the Boston area with his family, called “The Bäverstam Chamber Players”.

As a teenager, Sebastian focused more intensely on performing as a cellist and dropped piano and composition altogether. He toured with his youth orchestra in South America and China, performing Dvorak’s cello concerto as well as Strauss’s Don Quixote, both pieces he would play numerous times later. 

After receiving first prize in local youth concerto competitions, Bäverstam attended the New England Conservatory where he studied with cellist Paul Katz from the Cleveland Quartet. During this time, Bäverstam won the 2010 Concert Artists Guild competition. This afforded him the opportunity to work with professional management. His debut at Carnegie’s Weill recital hall in 2012 led to him revive his passion for composition where he premiered a set of variations for solo cello on the traditional theme Frère Jacques.

After several tours of the United States, Sebastian took a hiatus from performing  in order to study composition full time. He studied privately with Alla Elena Cohen of Berklee college, and then studied in Stockholm with Per Mårtensson at the Royal Conservatory of Stockholm. During this developmental time, he tried out his compositions in private house concerts along the east coast of the US. These experiences are what enabled Bäverstam to find his unique writing style which he now calls “Futurism”. Sebastian has now made his foray into a double career as performer and composer. 

Bäverstam also regularly performs with pianist Constantine Finehouse and they just released a new album titled “Settling Old Scores” which can be found on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.