Dutch-born cellist Pieter Wispelwey will fulfill a long-held ambition this week, when he performs for the first time with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, one of the world’s oldest and most distinguished classical music groups. This meeting, however, will not occur in Europe or North America, but in the Australian cities of Melbourne and Sydney, where Wispelwey says he feels surprisingly at home.
‘It’s never too far to come to Australia,’ he says, after being asked about his motivation in undertaking the journey. ‘I have a long-term relationship with Australia, and in particular with… the Australian Chamber Orchestra – also a lasting friendship with [its Artistic Director] Richard Tognetti… I have really loved going there.’
