Essays and Dissertation
Dissertation on Emanuel Feuermann
The Physical and Interpretive Technique of Emanuel Feuermann (1998)
Castelnuovo-Tedesco Cello Concerto Revival — by Brinton Averil Smith
June 8, 2018 marked the Naxos release of a live recording of the first professional performance of Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s ‘lost’ cello concerto in over 80 years.
Cellist Brinton Averil Smith Unearths Lost Cello Concerto with Houston Symphony
Strings Magazine article about the Castelnuovo-Tedesco Cello Concerto and it's revival at the Houston Symphony.
Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Forgotten Masterpiece
Blog article for the CelloBello blog about the Castelnuovo-Tedesco Cello Concerto.
Master And Commissioner: How A Cellist Got His Dream Concerto
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco relates that Piatigorsky asked him, ‘Castelnuovo, a great many cellists play your works as well as I do, but nobody loves them as much. Write a concerto for me!’
Emanuel Feuermann And The Art Of Phrasing
There has been a long-running debate in the string-playing world regarding the 'Golden Age' of string playing, generally considered to span the 1920s to the 1960s.
Zara Nelsova: An Artist Of Perfect Intensity And Passion
I have struggled to find a way to express adequately who Zara Nelsova was - as a musician, a teacher and a human being. I think the only way I could begin to honor her appropriately is to describe...
Common Themes ASTA Magazine Cello Forum
For string teachers, every lesson is a challenge in creative problem solving.
Houston Symphony Blog Articles
Notes From The Soloist: Brinton Averil Smith On D’Albert’s Cello Concerto
Eugen d’Albert’s Cello Concerto is something of a novelty today. Even most cellists are barely aware of its existence; however, this beautiful work was performed quite regularly in the early 20th
First Post-Harvey Concert Address
Brinton addresses the audience on behalf of the musicians prior to the first HSO concert post Hurricane Harvey
Address To The Houston Symphony Annual Meeting
On behalf of the my fellow musicians, I'm happy to give the musician’s report. For me, this past season has been the most artistically exciting since I joined the orchestra.
Principal Cellist Brinton Averil Smith Addresses Our Board
Near the end of each season, the Houston Symphony Society holds its annual board and trustees meeting.
Cellists Brawl At Symphony Hall: Yo-Yo Ma Vs. Brinton Smith
Scandal has rocked the HSO after leaked photos appear to depict physical confrontation between Principal Cellist Brinton Averil Smith and world-renowned cello superstar Yo-Yo Ma
Brinton Brings Lost Masterpiece Back To Life
The process of musical rebirth will unfold at Jones Hall this April when Principal Cellist Brinton Averil Smith performs a long-lost cello concerto.
A Cellist In Colombia
HSO principal cellist Brinton Smith and principal trumpet Mark Hughes went to sunny Santa Marta, Colombia to teach and mentor young musicians in the Colombian National Youth Orchestra.
The Illustrated Life Of Don Quixote De La Mancha
Way back in August our Principal Cello, Brinton Smith, sent me a link to the Cervantes Collection at Texas A&M University Libraries, which houses one of the largest collections of Don Quixote iconography.
From the Orchestra Articles
Rachmaninoff
On behalf of all my fellow musicians, welcome to Jones Hall and what we hope will be a very memorable concert of the Houston Symphony.
The Value Of Music Lessons
The beginning of the symphony season coincides with the start of the school year and a time when many children consider learning a musical instrument.
Classical Crossover
It is interesting to see an increasing number of pop and rock musicians incorporating orchestral instruments and sounds into their works.
Competitions
On behalf of my fellow musicians, welcome to the Houston Symphony! For our orchestra, June is our 'road warrior' month.
The Audition Process
The competitive process of hiring new players is highly regulated and intricate as, each year, conservatories around the world graduate hundreds of times more musicians than there are orchestral vacancies.
Take A Friend To The Orchestra Month
As musicians, it's often difficult to envision what we do through the eyes of the general public–many of whom have never been to a live symphonic concert.
Four Last Songs
Musicians are frequently asked about our favorite composer or compositions, and answering this question is often like trying to pick your favorite child–impossible!
The Era Of Recordings
Before the era of recording, Bach and Haydn wrote music intended for use in a single performance and it’s unique audience -- listening to music was inseparable from live performance.
The Miracle Of Stradivarius
Houston Symphony Principal Cello Brinton Smith is a monthly contributor to Houston Symphony Magazine. This letter is reprinted from the January 2011 issue.
Philanthropy
The mission of an orchestra is to bring the world’s top musicians together, not just for a single concert, but to become a part of the community
Music And The Holocaust
Great music has the power to reach a part of our being that words and information can not.
On Touring
As a musician, a tour is an exciting challenge.
A New Concertmaster
On behalf of the musicians, I would like to welcome you back to the Houston Symphony for our very exciting 97th season!
Program Notes
Emanuel Feuermann Tribute Recital
Emanuel Feuermann Tribute Recital
Liederabend Ohne Worte: A Concert Of Works For Cello And Piano Inspired By Song
Welcome and thank you for joining us for another recital 'experiment'. The cello is generally considered to be the closest instrument to the human voice, and a program of works derived from song seemed to be a natural
Beautiful And Unjustly Neglected Works For Cello And Piano
These are not as much program notes as a narrative of what interested me in programming these works.
Brinton Smith And Friends... A Recital For Solo Cello
Thank you for joining me for this somewhat experimental and unorthodox program. The idea of doing a solo recital has been in my head for over a decade, but I don't think I ever fully understood what an undertaking it
An Evening Of The Music Of Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Even listeners unfamiliar with the name of composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold are likely familiar with his musical style.