Throckmorton Noon Concerts Presents
Cadenza: Solo Cello Beyond the Orchestra
Christoph Wagner, cello
A cadenza is the moment a concerto hands the orchestra over to a single voice — usually a few unaccompanied minutes buried inside a much larger work. Cellist Christoph Wagner builds an entire recital around that moment, pulling cadenzas from the Haydn, Boccherini, Gulda, and Shostakovich concertos out of their orchestral context and giving each one room to stand alone. Bach's suite movements anchor the program, and it travels to China with folk melodies including Mo Li Hua and Er Quan Ying Yue, before closing with Mark Summer's high-energy Julie-O. Wagner, Assistant Professor of Cello and String Area Head at the University of New Mexico, shares the story behind each piece from the stage.
PROGRAM
J.S. Bach — Prelude and Gigue from Cello Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009
Joseph Haydn — Cadenza (Boettcher) from the Cello Concerto in C major
Luigi Boccherini — Cadenza (Casals) from the Cello Concerto in B-flat major
Chinese Folk Songs — Mo Li Hua (Jasmine Flower); Er Quan Ying Yue (The Moon Reflected on the Second Spring)
Friedrich Gulda — Cadenza from the Cello Concerto
Benjamin Britten — Tema "Sacher"
Dmitri Shostakovich — Cadenza (Third Movement) from Cello Concerto No. 1
Mark Summer — Julie-O
Throckmorton’s Noon Concerts Series are free to attend. You are encouraged to hold seats but it is not required. Doors open at 11:45am; Concerts begin at 12pm.
About
Christoph Wagner – An award-winning cellist and dedicated educator, Christoph Wagner has performed across four continents, gracing major concert halls such as the Berlin Philharmonie and Walt Disney Hall. A passionate music ambassador, he has worked with underserved communities and contributed to outreach programs, including LA Street Symphony. Currently, Dr. Wagner is Assistant Professor of Cello and Head of Strings at the University of New Mexico, where he continues his mission to transform the world through music
Noon Concert Series
Our 2025-2026 season of signature Noon Concerts shares talent from around the world. All concerts are offered to the public free of charge. Join us to celebrate the transcendent power of live music.
Concert Curator
We have had the good fortune of having Beni Shinohara as our Noon Concerts Curator for the last nine years. Beni is a highly respected and incredibly talented Bay Area musician. She has made our Noon Concerts one of the area’s sought-after engagements for many performers and we are thrilled to have her curating our Season once again.