The texture of Bach in its playing, as with any musical piece, is that can be about interpretation but it is also about the journey of the musician playing it. Cellist Robert La Rue who has played in Bennington previously with the Sullivan String Quartet as well as the VC3, a cello trio, bring his own sense of performance. La Rue has played with, among others, the New York City Opera Orchestra as well as the New York City Ballet.
LaRue will be performing Bach's Cello Suites No. 1 and No. 3 at the Left Bank in North Bennington on New Year's Eve.
LaRue spoke to the Banner from New York City about approach, style and the importance of teachers. One of the first times La Rue recalls playing in Bennington was with the Sage City Symphony around 2000. They performed a concerto by a Vermont composer who had attended Middlebury College.
La Rue himself attended Indiana University as well as Julliard in New York City. As with many great artists coming out of the latter, it makes sense that one would intersect with peers from that time period as careers evolve. “Well, naturally, there's a certain amount of what I guess you would call attrition, but I'm constantly running into and working with people I know from these various schools “ While La Rue has taught in the past, performance is right now at the forefront.
“I do teach, not as much as I used to, but I do still teach both privately and I do some chamber music coaching.” He adds that after finishing school, he wound up settli.
