Today’s broadcast of the Protecting Veil with the BBC Philharmonic was printed, in the Radio 3 Listener Window, as being me performing: it was in fact Josephine Knight, who very heroically took over at the last minute when I had to withdraw in February.

Shoulder problems having continued, I have decided to cancel all engagements until next season.

The first concert back after my break will be the Messaien Quartet for the End of Time at the Proms, on 4th September, with Martin Fröst, Anthony Marwood and Thomas Larcher.

I’m so sorry to all who had hoped to come along to these concerts that I was looking forward to enormously - I have to cancel them because of ongoing problems with my left shoulder. It’s been continuing for a few months, and I’ve decided, following medical advice, that I just need to clear the diary for a while to recover completely. It’s not been an easy decision to make (John Metcalfe wrote some incredibly beautiful new music, which I can’t wait to play when I’m ready), but I know it’s the only way forward with this particular injury. I hope to be able to find time in 09 to put this tour back in the diary.

(Sarah Allen, my wonderful tour manager will organise that any tickets bought through this site or through Sarah Allen Promotions will be refunded either by paypal or cheque. All other box offices are also offering full refunds - please contact the vendor you purchased from to arrange.)

In April I’m going on tour round cathedrals and churches around England and Wales playing Bach on gut strings for the first time. I’m very curious to see what this will be like, also with a baroque bow - I’ve been wanting to do this for years, but have never taken the step as my programmes always mix Bach with more modern music so gut strings would not have worked. On this tour I also have a mixed programme (this time with several world premieres from a fantastically talented composer, John Metcalfe), but all of these I will play on a brand new electric cello, using my computer and midi pedal control board. John’s music is very subtle, clear and emotionally strong, and will go perfectly with Bach in the fabulous cathedral acoustics.

For the first tim you can book tickets direct through this website, on the left, and see full tour details.

In brief, the tour dates are:

April 18th - Cambridge
April 23rd - Carlisle
April 24th - Hereford
April 25th - St Asaph (N Wales)
April 26th - Sheffield
April 30th - Southwell
May 1 - London
May 3 - Oxford

Just about to do a performance with BBC Philharmonic musicians and the quite brilliant brass players from Salford University. We’ve written a piece together that is inventive, powerful and origanal. Based around ideas from John Tavener’s Protecting Veil, a piece lasting over 30′ has emerged, much of it invented by the student participants, and we also have dancers who have created their own original choreography. I’ve been amazed by the brass players - not only their technical skills and sheer beauty of sound, but they’re such a great bunch too! It’s been a very good week. The show is going to be recorded by BBC Radio 3 for later broadcast on Discovering Music. Look out for it.

It’s always wonderful doing these projects; remembering just how much talent there is in the world, and what an inspiration it is to work with young people, engaging with their imaginations and energy.