Laurence Vittes

Laurence Vittes headshot

Laurence Vittes grew up in Los Angeles, and trained as a cellist, librarian and writer. He wrote for The Economist, LA Times, and Huffington Post. In addition to Strings, Vittes write for The Strad, Gramophone, Bachtrack, and Seen & Heard International.

Your Favorite Album: Mozart's Piano Concertos

Favorite Song to Play on Your Instrument: Bach's Six Cello Suites

Instrument of Your Dreams: Mozart's piano

Articles by Laurence Vittes

Jazz Cellist Tomeka Reid on Developing Her Own Language of Improvisation

Forging a unique jazz sound that draws from a range of musical traditions, Tomeka Reid is a jazz cellist, composer, and improviser who was awarded one of 25 MacArthur Fellowships for 2022.

Orchestras and Competitions Rethink the Printed Program

As we enter 2023, many orchestral organizations are beginning to rethink printed programs in favor of digital versions.

Music Writer Tully Potter on the Importance of Historical Knowledge in Music Performance

Tully Porter takes his role as a music critic seriously; it is a profession that requires deep knowledge of music and its history, he says.

Jan Vogler’s ‘The Dvořák Album’ is an Eloquent Celebration of the Composer’s Chamber Music

It’s hard to resist the notion that cellist Jan Vogler’s passionate, eloquent celebration of Dvořák’s chamber music comes close to what was in the composer’s heart.

Tutti Bassi Create Simple Beauty on ‘Have Cellos Will Travel’

Each of the 29 tracks on Tutti Bassi's Have Cellos, Will Travel is an example of the delights to be found in phrasing and dialog, in creating simple beauty from simple sounds.

Baltomire Symphony Orchestra conductor Jonathon Heyward reading music

New Conductorships Signal Change in the Orchestral World

There is a wave of new conductorships in U.S. classical music, with profound generational shifts also occurring in Europe and women increasingly appearing on the podium.

Violinist Francesca Dego and Conductor Sir Roger Norrington’s Mozart Concertos Are a Fresh Take Based on Historical Resources

The Mozart Violin Concertos recording with violinist Francesca Dego combines old and new traditions, using modern instruments but infused with Sir Roger Norrington more than 60 years of research and experience.