Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
My name is Peter Hudler, I am a classically trained cellist from Vienna, Austria.
What does a typical day look like for you?
At the moment I cannot play concerts or travel due to the pandemic, so I plan coming seasons, practice and generally work on my projects at home.
What’s great about your job?
I am free and have the possibility to be creative, I can share something valuable with other people and give them something special that in many people's life tends to be lacking a bit.
What are the bits you don’t like or find challenging?
The challenge of course is to deal with a world that seems to be losing interest in the arts and culture, and puts every aspect of life under the dictate of efficiency and profit. And of course all the administration work that comes with a freelance life…
You are participating in season 2 of Online@theSpaceUK. Tell us about your show?
It's a one hour livestream with some of the best pieces from my shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, a colourful mix of styles bringing together the most disparate genres, literally from Baroque to Rock.
What should an audience expect when watching the show?
Good music, good Cello playing, and approachable explanations of the music.
How have you found the transition from live performance to online? Have you found it constrictive or has it allowed you to experiment more?
I liked it at the beginning, because there is less pressure, but in the long run, performing without an audience doesn't make sense for me at all.
Do you think online performance will remain popular/necessary in the future?
Not after the pandemic, I don't think so.
How has it been working with theSpaceUK for this season?
Very nice and uncomplicated as always, and I really appreciate what they are doing online now.
What are the highlights of your career to date?
I loved some of the concerts I played in orchestras, especially chamber groups. I played chamber music concerts in Rome, Moscow, Vienna and other places that were great experiences. I am proud of the CDs I recorded recently and of some of the gigs I organised myself here in Vienna.
How did you get into the industry? Have you also worked outside the arts?
I just entered the conservatory and from then it kept going until now. I did some small student jobs outside the arts like working at a restaurant etc, but no real full time jobs.
Can you describe your biggest challenge so far in your career? How did you overcome it?
I quit a full time job five years ago because I was unhappy in it. It was very well paid, but I wanted to be free and creative and keep evolving and that was impossible in these surroundings. What followed was a bit tough because I had to learn how to move around as a freelance and develop my own projects. It has proven to be the most rewarding in the long run though.
Have you noticed any changes in the industry? If so, what? Is there more change you would want to see?
Like probably everywhere the gap between a few people who earn a lot of money and the struggling rest has widened up more I think. On the other hand, the so called classical music world I come from has been opening up a little bit and trying to find new and less dusty ways of relating to audiences. I would like to see much more of this, absolutely.
You’ve been granted the ability to send a message to 16-year-old you. What do you say?
Keep going on your way and don't confuse other people's problems with your own.
Do you have any advice for young people interested in following your footsteps?
Don't just learn the instrument, learn the soft skills as well. Never forget why you loved music in the first place.
When and where can people watch your show?
For now, there is the stream on online theSpace UK: https://online.thespaceuk.com/show/cello-on-fire
I hope to be back to the Fringe in August 2021, and there is a UK tour planned for October 21.
And finally where can people find you?
I have a website: www.peterhudler.com with updates, also on upcoming projects, like my new CD. Or you follow me on twitter @peterhudler, Instagram @peterhudler or Facebook. The Fringe Show has its own Twitter account as well. @CelloOnFire
You can watch Cello on Fire over at theSpaceUK's website: https://online.thespaceuk.com/show/cello-on-fire
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