Kirill Gerstein and Steven Isserlis, by Ian Douglas/The New York Times

Steven Isserlis and Kirill Gerstein at the 92nd Street Y, January 27, 2013
The New York Times, Jan. 29, 2013

That the brilliant cellist Steven Isserlis performs regularly at the 92nd Street Y is one of the venue's crowning glories, no matter what repertoire he chooses to play or which outstanding pianist he chooses to partner with. Last time I saw Isserlis, he played old and new music with Jeremy Denk. Not long after that occasion, I spoke with him by telephone for a feature story about the Y and its director, Hanna Arie-Gaifman.

A noted author of children's books about Beethoven and Handel, Isserlis also presents programs geared to young audiences at the Y. Coming up this Sunday, February 3, at 3pm, he and Denk will investigate the world of Saint-Saëns in the company of oboist James Austin Smith.

I wonder if Isserlis was responsible for the copy posted on the 92nd Street Y's website about that concert?

Saint-Saëns was a phenomenon. As a child,
he could play Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas from memory. As an adult, he
could compose symphonies, play the organ, even design his own
telescope. He just couldn’t get along with anybody, except his best
friend, the composer Fauré.