Most of us know the fine cello concertos by Raff and Rubinstein (of course..), but are there other less known romantic cello concertos you recommend? I know those of Dietrich, Gernsheim, Volkmann, and since one day the Schmidt-Kowalski. I can hardly wait for the Bortkiewicz (I have a poor recording, but it proves that his cello concerto is a masterpiece). Anyone familiar with Klengel?
Dietrich, Gernsheim and Volkmann would have been my first thoughts, so try Röntgen's three on Etcetera (http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Julius-R%F6ntgen-Cellokonzerte-Nr-1-3/hnum/5724798). Lovely works. I can also recommend Klughardt's one-movement example (very taughtly put together and gloriously melodic) on Sterling (http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/August-Klughardt-Auf-der-Wanderschaft-Suite-op-67/hnum/8971661). There's also Vieuxtemps (http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Henri-Vieuxtemps-Cellokonzerte-Nr-1-2/hnum/6742454)' two lovely late concertos and, a long shot but well worth it if you can track down the CD (http://www.bayermusicgroup.de/label/rbm/rbm465108.htm), Reinecke's. The soloist, Thomas Blees, is fine but the orchestral accompaniment is a tad pedestrian (it's an amateur orchestra). Nonetheless this really fine concerto gets the best performance of all the works on the disk, which includes Raff's First Cello Concerto in a rendition which can't hold a candle to Müller-Schott on Tudor.
The Reinecke is long overdue for a decent recording with a top-notch soloist and orchestra. Does anybody know if Hyperion or cpo have it somewhere in the pipeline?
Thanks, Mark, for your suggestions. I know the Vieuxtemps very well, but this brings me to the question whether Vieuxtemps is unsung or not? I suppose he's not in the Benelux. BTW, ever heard a more "smashing" coda in any VC than in his 5th?
Well, I suppose I've to give Röntgen a try one day. Hyperion's Romantic Cello Concertos, Vol.1, should present some "sumptuous" cello concertos, but I haven't got this CD. The Dohnányi could be a fine work, just like his PC's.
Just off the top of my head, rather than looking in my database...
Davidov wrote a couple of pretty good ones. I DLed em from eMusic, I think on the CPO label coupled with a known one.
There's also Popper of course, who wrote a lot of great cello music, including at least one concerto.
Might we add Saint-Saens's 2nd here too? It gets soooo overshadowed by the 1st, but it's a wonderful work in its own right.
Also, Dvorak's "1st", though it's only cello and piano -- orchestrated and shortened by someone else. It's a pretty nice piece in either format still.
But most importently, there's Offenbach's Concerto Millitaire. Actually there's a bit of an oddity with this one, as it seems to have two seperate finales, one of which -- supposedly the 'correct' one -- is also known as the "Concerto-Rondo". Actually the whole thing is confusing and the linar notes of none of the three CDs the piece is on shed enough light that I can figure out where the heck the other finale came from.
Davydov (or Davidoff) composed 4 cello concertos, of which the D Major (#3) and E Minor (#4) remain unrecorded. The first 2 (B Minor and A Minor) have been recorded twice, once on the defunct Olympia label, then again on cpo. Offenbach's Concerto Militaire has only the first movement orchestrated by him. The next two movements were orchestrated by someone else, although I believe that the Concerto-Rondo was orchestrated by him but published separately from the rest of the work. Popper, I believe also composed 4 cello concertos but only one (E Minor, methinks) has been recorded. However, there are some concertos by Chopin's friend Auguste Franchomme that might be of interest.
I'd have to say Lalo's Cello Concerto is a dark lovely work. And Mabey Emil Hartmann's Cello concerto too. On a more classical tone you will find Josef Rejcha 1752-1795 who's cello concertos are enjoyable.
Not sure if it qualifies as unsung, since it has actually been recorded quite a few times, but Myaskovsky's is quite beautiful.
Finzi's cello concerto is interesting as a late Romantic piece.
Khachaturian wrote 2 pieces for cello and orchestra - the Cello Concerto in E minor and the Concerto-Rhapsody in D minor.
Gliere's cello concerto has been overshadowed by his excellent horn concerto -- and rightfully so. But it is worth hearing nonetheless.
Lets Not forget Grechaninov's beautiful little cello concerto and Sullivan's Cello Concerto.
There is also a Concerto by Grieg (actually an orchestration of is Cello sonata).... Altough I haven't heard it!
Would love to hear The Cello concerto by Stanford (did he write 1 or more?!!??)
The Ernest Moeran concerto is also highly reconmmendable!
Quote from: FBerwald on Thursday 03 September 2009, 19:11Would love to hear The Cello concerto by Stanford (did he write 1 or more?!!??)
Stanford composed only one cello concerto, in D Minor. I believe it is a student work, or at least a very early one. It's quite a nice piece, and has been recorded on the Lyrita label with his 3rd PC.
Quote from: FBerwald on Thursday 03 September 2009, 19:11
There is also a Concerto by Grieg (actually an orchestration of is Cello sonata).... Altough I haven't heard it!
Whatever it is, the orchestration is by someone else. Grieg's only concertante work is his piano concerto (well, aside from a fragment of another one).
Some others I own that haven't seemed to have been mentioned:
-Atterberg. Great piece though not quite at the level of his symphonies.
-Glazunov, wrote a piece called "Concerto Ballata"
-Rota wrote a pair, that like all his concert works are full of blatent romantic goodness
-Rodrigo wrote "Concierto en Modo Galante", which I believe is a bit more modern than most in this thread, but still nice
-Kabalevsky of course wrote a very nice pair
And a load of smaller pieces for cello and orchestra, too many to list really.
Quote from: TerraEpon on Friday 04 September 2009, 06:50
Quote from: FBerwald on Thursday 03 September 2009, 19:11
There is also a Concerto by Grieg (actually an orchestration of is Cello sonata).... Altough I haven't heard it!
Whatever it is, the orchestration is by someone else. Grieg's only concertante work is his piano concerto (well, aside from a fragment of another one).
The 'Grieg' cello concerto received a pretty decent recording in 2003: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2003/May03/GriegCC.htm (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2003/May03/GriegCC.htm)
Hi all
David Popper composed four cello concertos. All have been recorded, but only no 2 in e minor, op 24 (1880) gets the gongs. And several recordings. Justly so, I think, but concert hall performances in these wicked days - not likely, one would think. Another unsung - by another Bohemian composer - is Antonin Vranicky's d minor concerto of around 1805-1810. A powerful, passionate work of the era, with a lot of melodic invention - gave me a start when I first heard it.
But Peter 1953, do tell more about the Schmidt-Kowalski concerto. Never heard of the composer. Date? Recording?
regards
Peter
What about the pair of Cello concertos by Victor Herbert? The second is said to have impressed Dvorak!!!!
Thank you all for your good suggestions so far!
Peter, please go to the thread "A true modern-day Romantic composer", started by Alan. It's all about Thomas Schmidt-Kowalski. His Symphony No. 3 is coupled with his Cello Concerto in A minor, op. 84. I think it's nothing less than a gorgeous, very romantic concerto. The slow movement is utterly lyrical, and the 3rd movement has a lovely main theme which keeps singing around in your head for a long time. Very pleasant. Mind you, this concerto was written in...2002! You will love it, I'm sure.
Mark has given in his reply #6 a link to a review of this concerto.
Quote from: FBerwald on Friday 04 September 2009, 19:37
What about the pair of Cello concertos by Victor Herbert? The second is said to have impressed Dvorak!!!!
I would be most impressed if somebody, anybody, anybody at all would re-record the 1st, which is supposed to be just as fine a work as the 2nd!
Quote from: JimL on Friday 04 September 2009, 23:10
Quote from: FBerwald on Friday 04 September 2009, 19:37
What about the pair of Cello concertos by Victor Herbert? The second is said to have impressed Dvorak!!!!
I would be most impressed if somebody, anybody, anybody at all would re-record the 1st, which is supposed to be just as fine a work as the 2nd!
I think The 1st has been recorded (couples with the 2nd)by a female Cellist with Academy of St. Martin (a very old record!!)
The recording is from 1988, I think. Quite old but it's still acceptable. I've just listened to a sound sample at ArkivMusic, http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=5306&name_role1=1&bcorder=1&comp_id=213266 (http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=5306&name_role1=1&bcorder=1&comp_id=213266)
________
I've ordered the Klengel 1 & 4 (cpo) for only EUR 5.99 together with the Klavierwerke by Brüll (www.jpc.de).
Hi all
General thanks from me, especially to Peter1953. I will be ordering two Naxos discs of music by Schmidt-Kowalski next week.
I agree that the Herbert cello concertos are about on a par with one another - good candidates for a new recording, say by Hyperion or Albany.
Other unsungs to consider:
Wilhelm Fitzenhagen's concerto from the 1870s - by a virtuoso cellist, and no harm at all in that. Still available on CD.
Hans Pfitzner youthful but impressive a minor concerto of 1888. A more attractive work then his later cello concertante works, IMHO.
Five concertos by Franz Neruda, a luminary of Danish musical life and a very influential, versatile artist in his day. The works were all composed in 1887-1888 and are single movement concertos in sonata form. Not earth-shattering, but attractive and well crafted enough to get the composer some key jobs he seems to have been after.
regards
Peter
I think Lynn Harrell would be quite disturbed to find out he's now a female after spending all these years as a man! ;D (Lynn isn't exclusively a woman's name - just ask Lynn Swann, the old USC/Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver.) And I'd certainly like to see the Herbert CC 1 coupled with something other than his 2nd. There have been enough recordings of the 2nd already.
Quote from: JimL on Saturday 05 September 2009, 22:48
I think Lynn Harrell would be quite disturbed to find out he's now a female after spending all these years as a man! ;D (Lynn isn't exclusively a woman's name - just ask Lynn Swann, the old USC/Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver.) And I'd certainly like to see the Herbert CC 1 coupled with something other than his 2nd. There have been enough recordings of the 2nd already.
Oops! :-[ Sorry! I had a feeling I was laying an egg!! ;D :-[ ;D
Dear all, the Klengel CD (EUR 5.99, jpc.de) is certainly worth buying. Lovely cello concertos, as long as you don't compare these works with the Dvorak or Elgar. Julius Klengel (1859-1933) wrote in a lyrical Romantic style. In the 2nd movement of his 4th you can immediately recognize Raff, for Klengel uses the wind instruments exactly the way Raff does. In this, Klengel imitates Raff. The orchestration is reminiscent of Bruch, but never mind, this doesn't make his concertos less enjoyable to hear. Strongly recommended!
There's a gorgeous VC by American composer Arthur Foote written in 1893. It's not been recorded so far as I know but Patrick Meadows has loaded onto IMSLP the full score of the edition that he and I recently prepared for anyone who's interested. http://imslp.org/wiki/Cello_Concerto,_Op.33_%28Foote,_Arthur%29
Speaking of Romantic Cello concertos. I downloaded the two Cello Concertos of Anton Rubinstein some months back. Lovely works ....No great fireworks ... just pages and pages of beautiful Lyrical dialogues between the cello and orchestra. The fact is I don't quite have the tracklists... so if anyone here has the cover scans (if possible booklets!) I'd very much appreciate it. I'm really curious about the origin of these concertos.
I have these lovely concertos performed by Werner Thomas-Mifune with the Bamberger Symphoniker (on VMS), but the booklet notes, very short, superficial thus disappointing, doesn't give any information about the origin or whatever.
Dear Peter Id settle for the cover scans. As I said i have no track listings. Anything is better than listening to track 01 - 06...as titles!!!
As I recall, the first movement of the Rubinstein CC 1 is marked Moderato assai - a rather often used tempo indication by Rubi. The finale is Allegro con fuoco. I don't recall the slow movement, but it may be Andante non troppo. The first movement of the CC 2 is Allegro moderato, and I believe the finale is simply Allegro. The slow movement of this one may be the Andante non troppo. I'll have to dig up that CD from the mess my collection has become since my move. In any event, I consider the 1st work nice but flawed in some ways. The second is repertoire material from start to finish and should be recognized as such for its formal innovation and melodic inspiration. I believe that VMS is a reissue of an old Koch-Schwann CD that I have in my possession.
Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, op. 65
1. Moderato
2. Adagio
3. Allegro con fuoco
Cello Concerto No. 2 in D minor, op. 96
1. Allegro moderato
2. Andante
3. Allegro
The concertos are recorded in 3Q1989. The VMS release is 2005.
I'm positive the first movement of 1 is Moderato assai. I'd have to check, though.
P.S. How much do you want to bet that at least one of these works was composed for Karl Davydov? I'd have to check the dates of composition.
Hi all
The first movement of number 1, op 65 is listed as 'moderato con moto' on the covers of both the Koch and MDG (2003) recordings.
The notes for both recordings are not very helpful. Not a word about Davydov (I am willing to bet Jiml is right). The dates of composition are also a little wobbly. It was not an early pendant to Schumann's 1850 concerto, as the MDG liner notes claims. The cover also gets the opus number wrong, but the date in the notes is at least correct (1864). Reference works I have checked plus an online list of Rubinstein's works place no 1 in 1864. No 2 arrived in 1874.
regards
Peter
Mention of the Grieg concerto transcribed for Cello, reminds me that there is also a transcription of his piano concerto, transcibed for Double Bass. It is on the ABC label.
That might start a new topic ? Transcribed Concerti ?
Just a couple of additons to the Cello Concerto repertoire:
A.Sullivan (1842-1900) Cello Concerto in D (reconstructed by Charles Mackerras& David Mackie)(3 mvts 17'27")
E.Elgar (1857-1934) " " in E minor,
L.Boccherini (1743-1808) " " in B flat,
G.M.Monn (1717-1750) " " in G minor
F.Delius (1862-1934) " "
E. Hartmann (1836-1898) " " in D minor op26 (1879)(Danacord DACOCD 508)
G.Helsted (1818-1904) " " in C major op35 1919)( ' DACOCD 537)
The Dvorak Cello Concerto no1 in A major is on the Supraphon Label (#SU 3564-2 011)(Instrumentation Jarmil Burghauser, revision of cello part Milos Sadlo) It is in 3 movements, lasting 33'19", and, as you would expect, does not even approach the quality of the B minor concerto.
Marcus
There's a recording of the original version of the Dvorak, with piano, also on Supraphon. It's about 15 minutes longer.
Also, I believe there's one or two versions of Schubert's Apreggione Sonata with orchestral backing...
I have had the Sullivan Concerto for quite some time now. Its simply beautiful. Its coupled with His Symphony.
There is of course the Raff Cello concertos - Absolutely gorgeous stuff!!!
Ps. Did Wieniawski write a cello concerto? if so are there or has there ever been any recording of it?
I don't think that Henri Wienawski wrote any works for cello, at least not a concerto. I have searched my sources, and can't come up with anything. His brother, Josef , (1837-1912), didn't write a concerto for cello either, although he did write a Piano Concerto in G minor op20, a Symphony in D minor op49, plus symphonic poems, sonatas, chamber music & songs. A nephew Adam, (1876-1950), wrote in most genres, but like Josef, no cello concerto.
Someone out there with a more extensive music library than mine, might provide a different answer.
Joseph's Piano Concerto was played on ABC radio many years ago, and when I saw it listed in the monthly program guide, I phoned to check if it was a misprint. I only knew one Wienawski !
Marcus.
Re my reply #32, regarding Grieg's Piano Concerto transcibed for Double -Bass. I do not have this CD, but I clearly remembered seeing it on the shelves at a CD store in Melbourne 7-8 years ago, and remember the "Concerto for Double-Bass & Orchestra in A minor by Grieg- transcribed by Gary Karr". Gary Karr is the well non Double-Bass player, and features on this disc. I checked the ABC catalogue, after I had posted my reply, (I think it is called "foot in mouth" syndrome), and discovered that this Double- Bass Concerto is in fact , a transcription of Grieg's Cello Sonata in A minor op36. The "A minor"is to blame - that's my story anyway !
Sorry folks if I caused any undue excitement. Should anyone intend rushing out to buy, the CD details:ABC CD #438 612-2. It contains the Grieg, plus Wilfred Joseph's (b1927),Concerto op118 & Stuart Sankey's(b1927) Carmen fantasy after Bizet.
Finally, a bouquet for Mr Grieg : I have a number of recordings of his Symphony in C minor, and inspite of the perceived imperfections (by Grieg himself),& reservations of some critics, I fnd it to be lush romantic work (yes a little lightweight ), and an interesting record of Grieg's early development. I, at least enjoy this work, & play it more often than some of the other Grieg compositions.
Marcus.
Three more Cello Concertos, and I can recommend them :
Eugene d'Albert (1864-1932) Cello Concerto in C major op20 (Pan) (thanks JimL)
Lodewijk de Vocht (1887-1977) Cello Concerto in D minor (Marco Polo)
D. Tovey (1875-1940) Cello Concerto op40 (Toccata)
Marcus.
The d'Albert concerto is in C, not D. So is the Tovey.
Hi all
A couple of really fine romantic cello concertos need to be added to the list - and they were composed by a gent who was is right up there in contention for the position of 'greatest violinist virtuoso/composer of the 1800s'. Henri Vieuxtemps. His no 1 dates from 1876, his number 2 from 1880. Two recordings of them I know of, released by EMI and Cypres.
I would also include relatively short but very attractive unsung concertos by August Klughardt (1894) and Alexander Grechaninov (1895).
regards
Peter
Enescu's Sinfonie Concertante, opus 8 (1899) -- a concerto in all but name -- impressed me on first hearing, less on subsequent hearings. But it's a bargain on Arte Nove. Anyone else have an opinion?
There is also a rather attractive Konzertstuck for cello in D by Erno von Dohnanyi, his Op. 12, I believe. It's available on Naxos, IIRC.
Marcus, the notion of a double bass transcription of Grieg's op. 16 reminds me of hearing, years ago, that a British string quartet (it was named but memory fails me) had played a droll arrangement of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, using cork guns for the climactic artillery.
Oops again JimL ! - brain fatigue - the memory in not what it used to be, I definately showing my age ! But I hope I got the message across. With the multitude of music in my head, it is better not to rely on memory, as I often do.
Marcus.
Does anyone know if the Cello Concertos 3 and 4 by Karl Davydov have ever been recorded?
Quote from: Christopher on Friday 04 June 2010, 13:14
Does anyone know if the Cello Concertos 3 and 4 by Karl Davydov have ever been recorded?
A recording is on its way/has just come out (Wen-Sinn Yang, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra / Terje Mikkelsen) according to MDT...before that, I don't know.
Eric
Here are some romantic cello concertos that I don't think have been mentioned yet:
Camille Saint-Saens (2 concertos + several lovely pieces for cello & orch)
Max Bruch (not quite concertos, but several beautiful pieces for cello & orch)
(Saint-Saens and Bruch are not exactly unsungs, but their cello concertante pieces are not very well know I think)
Siegfried Salomon
Miklos Rosza
Kenneth Leighton
Erich Korngold
Frederich Gernsheim
Gunnar de Frumerie
Albert Dietrich
Heitor Villa-Lobos (2)
Josef Rejcha (2 + a double concerto for 2 violins or violin & cello)
Sergei Bortkiewicz (beautiful work, currently only available from radio broadcast of unknown Ukrainian orchestra)
Arthur Bliss
Arnold Bax
Some lovely earlier concertos:
Carl Stamitz
Ignaz Pleyel
Leopold Hofmann
CPE Bach
And some worthwhile modern concertos:
Lukas Foss
Einar Englund
Aulis Sallinen
Alberto Ginastera
Alan Rawsthorne
Christopher Rouse
Ahmed Adnan Saygun
Alfred Schnittke
Rodion Shchedrin
Lepo Sumera
Mieczyslaw Weinberg
Erikki-Sven Tuur
Peteris Vasks
Virgil Thomson
Tobias Picker
Einojuhani Rautavaara
Arvo Part
Krystof Penderecki
Andrej Panufnik
Maurice Ohana
Ib Norholm
Darius Milhaud
Peter Mennin
Bohuslav Martinu
Witold Lutoslawski
George Lloyd
Joonas Kokkonen
Andre Jolivet
Arthur Honegger
Paul Hindemith
John Harbison
David Diamond
Pascal Dusapin
Alfredo Casella
Elliot Carter
William Busch
Gavin Bryars
Michael Berkeley (son of Lennox Berkeley)
Sally Beamish
Samuel Barber
Henk Badings
David Baker
Nicolas Bacri
Stephen Albert
Kalevi Aho
Quote from: John Hudock on Friday 04 June 2010, 18:45
(Saint-Saens and Bruch are not exactly unsungs, but their cello concertante pieces are not very well know I think)
That statement....uh.
Saint-Saens Cello Concerto #1 -- easily one of the main stays of the repertoire.
Bruch's Kol Niedre -- Certainly decently known, most surely his third most popular piece after the VC #1 and the Scottish Fantasy
I'll give you the others, especially for Bruch.
My comment was not meant to include Kol Nidre or the Saint-Saens 1st, but rather things like Bruch's Kanzone and Ave Maria and Saint-Saens Suite, Allegro Appasionato and to some extent his 2nd which is less well known. But thanks for nitpicking!
I used to own an LP with all of Saint-Saens' concertante works for cello. I think it was on either Philips or Angel (EMI). If anybody remembers that LP, who was the cellist?
Quote from: JimL on Saturday 05 June 2010, 23:42
I used to own an LP with all of Saint-Saens' concertante works for cello. I think it was on either Philips or Angel (EMI). If anybody remembers that LP, who was the cellist?
The Philips one was solo'd by Christine Walevska. (Borrowed a tape version of that from a local library and sort of remember it, but Google confirms :) )
Eric
That name rings a bell. Must've been the one. Thanks a million, Eric!
Hi all
The Davidov concertos 3 and 4 are now available on CPO. Both superb works, rewarding in every way.
Also worth checking out is an obscure 1873 a minor concerto by Wilhelm Fitzenhagen. On the OEHMS Classics and still available from JPC, I believe. It is a naive charmer, a brief (about 20 minutes) work for virtuoso display.
In a similar vein - five fairly short concertos (two discs) composed in 1887-1888 by Franz Neruda. Also a CPO release.
regards
Peter
Think the below have yet to be mentioned:
Wolf-Ferrari's cello concerto (on CPO). Modest, like the rest of his music, but no less beautiful.
Bengtsson's cello concerto (on Sterling). Hauntingly beautiful, might have to let it grow on you.
And then there are some unsung English works as well. Oration for cello & orchestra by Bridge is a bit too modern for me, but the Scott cello concerto I love! Also, the Delius concerto is one of those things that makes you wonder why it isn't played more often. Invocation by Holst is quite nice, but not a big discovery...
Forget to say, I love Pfitzner's cello concertos! True representatives of overripe romanticism on the verge of dying. Comparing the 1st with the 3rd is quite interesting, and not a boring task because of their beautiful melodic material!
The Finzi Cello Concerto is aso quite hauntingly beautiful!!!!!!
Any news on Hyperion's Romantic Cello Concertos ... further issues....??????????
I am surprised no-one has mentioned the Georg Goltermann cello concertos (or have they, and I've missed them?). They were mainstays a century ago, and what I've seen is quite lovely. One or two might warrant new recordings. At the moment what I have is a cylinder recording of the slow mvt from his no. 2 played by studio cello regular Louis Heine with an orchestra conducted by Louis von der Mehden -- very expressive playing, very lyric writing.
My mistake: my cylinder (a U-S Everlasting) is from Goltermann's no. 1, and Casals evidently also recorded that mvt. in his early Columbia sessions. On glancing over what I have, concerto no.5 might be a real find -- the slow mvt. is rather more adventurous than what I'd expected, and the finale has a lot of zip and wit.
I should want to see the complete Suite for cello and orchestra op. 3 by Herbert recorded; at least a CD reissue of the two mvts. on the Nonesuch LP (with his stunningly beautiful Serenade op. 12, the "Liebeslied" of which just makes me melt).
Quote from: peter_conole on Monday 07 June 2010, 12:43
The Davidov concertos 3 and 4 are now available on CPO. Both superb works, rewarding in every way.
Meanwhile, Regis is issuing the Davidov 1 & 2, hopefully followed by a 3 & 4, later. Does anyone know from which label they licensed those recordings?
I must confess to being allergic to the instrument. I find it so doleful. But hey,my problem!
Quote from: Pengelli on Friday 18 June 2010, 20:14
I must confess to being allergic to the instrument. I find it so doleful. But hey,my problem!
Indeed; I think the neoplasticism has gone to your head... ;D
Quote from: Kriton on Friday 18 June 2010, 20:09
Quote from: peter_conole on Monday 07 June 2010, 12:43
The Davidov concertos 3 and 4 are now available on CPO. Both superb works, rewarding in every way.
Meanwhile, Regis is issuing the Davidov 1 & 2, hopefully followed by a 3 & 4, later. Does anyone know from which label they licensed those recordings?
If Marina Tarasova is the cellist, they're probably the old Olympia recordings. They went belly-up before they could release 3 & 4, IIRC.
Quote from: JimL on Saturday 19 June 2010, 00:01
If Marina Tarasova is the cellist, they're probably the old Olympia recordings. They went belly-up before they could release 3 & 4, IIRC.
Yes she is. Thanks for the info, do you know if concertos 3 & 4 had been recorded by them
before Olympia ceased to exist?
And, by the way, what is 'IIRC'?
IIRC, Olympia never recorded anything. They licensed recordings to re-issue, including Russian Disc and Melodiya recordings for release in the West. That was the case with the Svetlanov Myaskovsky recordings, for example. So, I would guess the Tarasova recordings of Davidov CCs were reissues as well.
IIRC = If I Remember Correctly
Quote from: Kriton on Saturday 19 June 2010, 00:07
Quote from: JimL on Saturday 19 June 2010, 00:01
If Marina Tarasova is the cellist, they're probably the old Olympia recordings. They went belly-up before they could release 3 & 4, IIRC.
Yes she is. Thanks for the info, do you know if concertos 3 & 4 had been recorded by them before Olympia ceased to exist?
And, by the way, what is 'IIRC'?
I don't know, and If I remember correctly, respectively :)
(Perhaps it's possible to contact her directly- there are several Marina Tarasova(s) on Facebook, it seems, he notices experimentally. But then none of them might be the cellist. I have no idea!)
Eric
Quote from: Amphissa on Saturday 19 June 2010, 00:53
IIRC, Olympia never recorded anything. They licensed recordings to re-issue, including Russian Disc and Melodiya recordings for release in the West. That was the case with the Svetlanov Myaskovsky recordings, for example. So, I would guess the Tarasova recordings of Davidov CCs were reissues as well.
IIRC = If I Remember Correctly
On the contrary, to the best of my knowledge Olympia made several new recordings, including MacLachlan's Myaskovsky piano recordings, the Camillieri and Ronald Stevenson piano concertos (unless those were also reissues? Help me out here? :) ), and quite a few others.
Eric
QuoteAlso worth checking out is an obscure 1873 a minor concerto by Wilhelm Fitzenhagen.
I listened again to my disk of this work last night. It really is delicious; lightweight maybe, but with lovely tunes and solid structure. The CD is filled up with quite gorgeous miniatures by Firzenhagen for cello and piano. It's a winner.
Apart from a 1st Cello Concerto, Fitzenhagen wrote a Suite for cello and orchestra and a number of shorter works for the same combination. The scores and parts for both concertos, the suite and a few other concertante works of his are in the Fleisher Collection, so there would be no problem about sourcing the performance materials if some company wanted to treat us to an all Fitzenhagen disk.
Hi all
Especially to Gareth first up. Ah me, it is nice to know someone else has acquired a taste for Herr Fitzenhagen's music. Yep, music of real charm and warmth. Another recording or two would be nice.
Now some good news for new member PCC, who posted on Georg Golterman a little while ago. I also have the ancient Casals recording of the cantilena from his Cello Concerto no 1 in a minor, op 14 (1852).
But by some freakish good luck I found a full and fairly recent recording of his Cello Concerto no 4 in g major, op 65 (1871) a couple of years back. It is a Dowani Edition play-along production. Am not sure whether the one currently listed is just for cello and piano, but the one I acquired provided cello and orchestral accompaniment as well. Quite a lengthy piece for what seems to have been a concerto composed for his more advanced students. The work is very melodious and constructed in such a way as to test a few skills while remaining kind to young soloists.
Good hunting PCC!
Another recent obscure cello concerto discovery was recently available at Records International. It is a fine concerto of 1895 vintage by Mexican composer Riccardo Castro. Cello folk might also like to try out a lovely 1910 concerto by Tirolean composer Josef Pembauer. It is available from the Tiroler Landesmuseen.
regards
Peter
The Fitzenhagen cello concerto on the CD is the 2nd of 4. Only his Op. 4, the B minor Concerto #1 is his Op. 2. The 4th is Op. 63, but it is also on a list of his compositions without opus number, which puzzles me. The 3rd concerto has, apparently no opus number. Fitzenhagen, operating in Moscow, was the rival of Davidov in St. Petersburg. Their first two concertos, at least, are in the same keys! I just ordered that CD, and am looking forward to getting it soon.
P.S. I'd be willing to bet that this is the cellist for whom Anton Rubinstein composed his first CC. The timing is about right for his arrival in Moscow, and Fitzenhagen was invited to his Moscow Conservatory post by Anton's brother Nikolai.
Quote from: peter_conole on Saturday 19 June 2010, 16:24Another recent obscure cello concerto discovery was recently available at Records International. It is a fine concerto of 1895 vintage by Mexican composer Riccardo Castro. Cello folk might also like to try out a lovely 1910 concerto by Tirolean composer Josef Pembauer. It is available from the Tiroler Landesmuseen.
Peter - there are now
13 pages of CDs available from the Tiroler Landesmuseen - most of them displayed in extremely small images in which the print is almost impossible to read. So, if you don't mind, could you at least supply a page number on their website? :D
Hi all
To Jiml especially, but to all really. Quality stuff to mention.
The cello concerto is on page 6 or 13 - disc number is Klingende kostbarkeiten aus Tirol 54. The 1910 cello concerto goes with a 'Spring Overture' (1880) and a folksy and pretty joyous 'Tirolean Symphony' (1884).
Another fine Pembauer offering is a couple of pages earlier - number 44. A very fine High Romantic era work - a sincere, passionate and very traditional Festive Mass. The whole box and dice - soli, chorus, orchestra, with a couple of motets for good measure.
regards
Peter
Quote from: JimL on Saturday 19 June 2010, 23:50
there are now 13 pages of CDs available from the Tiroler Landesmuseen - most of them displayed in extremely small images in which the print is almost impossible to read. So, if you don't mind, could you at least supply a page number on their website? :D
...and a simple search turns up Pembaur straight away!!
I had no idea where to search in German!
Quote from: JimL on Monday 21 June 2010, 01:42
I had no idea where to search in German!
Ah. Museumshoponline --> CD --> Volltextssuche (full text search) --> "Pembaur"
Something like that I think...
Don't all search boxes look alike? No need for any language skills at all....
That's how I do it, Allan. One can get by on internet sites in most languages by looking for such similarities. And Babel Fish will translate basic phrases adequately in most languages if you get stuck.
Quite, Gareth. If I can search Polish sites without any knowledge of the language....
Or, a lifelong passion for romantic classical music could also convince one of the value of learning the basics of the German language...
And with German, only the slimmest knowledge is required to find one's way around library catalogues. Most of the key words are so similar to English ones... and a modicum of commonsense, coupled with tenacity, usually serves to reveal the sense.
I am really quite amazed and mystified that the exceptionally fine Cello Concerto No. 2 by Villa-Lobos, has not been mentioned here. I strongly encourage you to seek it out. If you think you know what it will sound like because you've heard Bachianas Brasileiras, well, it doesn't.
My favorite recording of this is from a radio broadcast of a live performance by Meneses. I have not yet heard the CD by Schmid, so I can't comment on that CD, but I like the CD featuring both cello concertos by Meneses better than the recording by Diaz.
Yeah but is it "romantic"? I remember listening to the two concerti once and they were pretty....spikey.
Well, the Villa-Lobos isn't 'Romantic'; it's neo-Romantic in the same sort of way Prokofiev is.
Quote from: Alan Howe on Saturday 10 July 2010, 21:28
Well, the Villa-Lobos isn't 'Romantic'; it's neo-Romantic in the same sort of way Prokofiev is.
I'm not sure where I would place the large-scale works of his I know (I think I've heard one of the cello concertos and some of the piano concertos in the Decca recording, but I'm most familiar with some of the string quartets and have heard a few of his symphonies) - around Bartók and Stravinsky maybe??... (and I'm remembering one review in Fanfare- of a recording of the quartets, I think (my favorites among his works :) )- that mentioned - paraphrasing - a tendency to close with what Stravinsky would have sneered at as "commercial" chords, so the comparison with Stravinsky, which I stand by, does feel odd.) Prokofiev's there too, though. I'm not meaning to suggest derivativeness (I'm not suggesting you were either) and I do think he was a very good composer indeed (fwiw!)
Eric
Has Molique's (D major, and unquestionably Romantic :) ) cello concerto been recorded commercially yet? I have heard a radio tape only. I'm impressed, though. (Cello and piano reduction at
http://imslp.org/wiki/Cello_Concerto,_Op.45_(Molique,_Bernhard) (http://imslp.org/wiki/Cello_Concerto,_Op.45_(Molique,_Bernhard)) )
Eric
Like I say, if you think you know what Villa-Lobos sounds like, his 2nd cello concerto ain't it. The 2nd cello concerto is not "spiky" at all. It is quite lyrical and not as disjointed as a lot of his music. And it is nothing like Prokofiev (thank goodness).
Quote from: Amphissa on Sunday 11 July 2010, 03:01Like I say, if you think you know what Villa-Lobos sounds like, his 2nd cello concerto ain't it. The 2nd cello concerto is not "spiky" at all. It is quite lyrical and not as disjointed as a lot of his music. And it is nothing like Prokofiev (thank goodness).
Could be misremembering. Or maybe only remembering the first *shrug*.
Some of his music is as romantic as it can be (5th Bachianas of course, and other stuff like Song of the Black Swan) but others, yeah a comparison to Prokofiev is not a bad one. His music, while still retaining a sense of his own style, really can be all over the map.
I decided to pull this out and play it again. It is more "modernist" than I remembered. Not "spiky" or abrasive, but certainly not Dvorak or Myaskovsky. Still, it's probably not on target for this group, as it is not firmly in the romantic camp.
I didn't say the Villa Lobos was like Prokofiev; I said it was neo-Romantic in the same sort of way Prokofiev is. I think that is manifestly true.
And I also like Atterberg's cello concerto quite a lot. It's probably one of the more lyrical works he composed. And it's nothing like Prokofiev or Villa-Lobos. ;D
Quote from: eschiss1 on Sunday 11 July 2010, 00:37
Has Molique's (D major, and unquestionably Romantic :) ) cello concerto been recorded commercially yet? I have heard a radio tape only. I'm impressed, though. (Cello and piano reduction at
http://imslp.org/wiki/Cello_Concerto,_Op.45_(Molique,_Bernhard) (http://imslp.org/wiki/Cello_Concerto,_Op.45_(Molique,_Bernhard)) )
Eric
I have wanted to hear this concerto for a long time but I haven't been able to find a recording of it. When was it broadcast?
Quote from: peter_conole on Saturday 19 June 2010, 16:24Cello folk might also like to try out a lovely 1910 concerto by Tirolean composer Josef Pembauer. It is available from the Tiroler Landesmuseen.
I recommend this disc. It is a generous 77 minutes consisting of a full concert of overture, concerto, and symphony, and none of them are mere fillers. The notes are mostly in German, but the cover has a portrait of the composer by Gustav Klimt that neatly reflects the composer's style: not so much romantic as representational, and not entirely serious. The Spring Overture reminded me of Cowen's Butterfly's Ball. The symphony, "In the Tirol", is four movements, helpfully entitled Morning, Idyll, Play and Dance in the Village, and Happy Homecoming. The second movement in particular shows the influence of Bruckner, but overall the style is far lighter, nearer to Hänsel und Gretel. The more classical cello concerto was written a full thirty years after the overture, and is described on the final page of the booklet as "a serene late work from his time of maturity".
Quote from: FBerwald on Tuesday 08 June 2010, 15:54
The Finzi Cello Concerto is aso quite hauntingly beautiful!!!!!!
I just heard the Finzi 'Cello Concerto on the radio last night! Amazing! It was a driveway moment (except that I was in the grocery store parking lot)!
I would love to hear Weingartners cello concerto, but apart from its hearing in Vienna in 1919 I don't know if it still exists. Since CPO's Weingartner cycle I expected it to be released, but nothing happened.
Other obscure: Cornelis Dopper, I know of two recordings, both amature, and not too well done. I'm not too convinced about the concerto itself, if for instance compared to Röntgens concerto's. I do love the three concerti by Hans Pfitzner (But since cpo's disc that might not be so unsung anymore), and both sonnetes by Biarant, though they're not a concerto off course.
I bought the Tovey concerto, and was a bit disappointed by the thick and sluggish music.
Welcome SebastiaanG. I think that I have a recording of a radio broadcast of Weingartner's Cello Concerto and, once I've tracked it down, I'll upload it.
...but don't hold your breath, SebastiaanG! From what I remember it's not one of his best pieces. Still, you'll soon be able to make up your own mind...
Yes, I remember it as a bit of a dud, too. However, it'll be available in the Downloads board tomorrow...
Actually, I had some time, so it's there now.
QuoteDavydov (or Davidoff) composed 4 cello concertos, of which the D Major (#3) and E Minor (#4) remain unrecorded.
Davidoff's 3rd and 4th are on CPO and in Germany, at least, have been reduced in price.
CPO: 777 432-2 with the same performers as in the 1st and 2nd concertos.
I have a soft spot for Weingartner. His Cello Concerto is certainly not his most thrilling composition, however I enjoyed listening to it. Thanks very much for the upload, Mark.
Somewhat of a trifle I admit, but then I'm a stickler for getting it right. True, Wen-Sinn Yang [vc] recorded all four Davidoff cello concertos on CPO, and all four conducted by Terje Mikkelsen. However the orchestra in 3 and 4 is the Shanghai SO, whereas for 1 and 2 it is (appropriately enough) the Latvian National SO.
Maybe I'm a regular killjoy but I'm afraid I was underimpressed by all four. I'm not sure if it is Davidoff, or the performances, but they were discs that I'm glad to have listened to but now inhabit the top shelves where the spiders happily spin their webs.
Wooow,
Now that's a response i didn't expect to happen. I feel deeply honoured by such a warm welcome!
I'm most greatfull for the upload of Weingartners cello concerto.
I'm not so sure what to find of it, for I have difficulty listening through the recording. For sure Weingartner has a problem with leaving the solo instrument alone for a minut, so I agree its not an outstanding concerto. The rest... I would be interested whats happening in the orchestra, for according to what I hear there's only countermelody and no accompaniment except for some pizzicati in the bases. Maybe I'm not able to let go of my love for Weingartner yet, or some things didn't get through in the recording, and am I hoping too much for the latter.
In the third part he is doing some interesting things I think...
From when is the recording?
Again many thanks for the welcome and the upload!
Sebastiaan
I have no details of the recording's background, I'm afraid, beyond what I wrote in the upload post, as it wasn't made by me. It's not the best of off-air dubs and I can quite believe that quite a bit of orchestral detail is missing. Maybe someone can track down a better recording, or a copy of the score?
If it helps at all, published by Universal Edition of Vienna, 1917. (Nr. 5822.) Copies of the full score owned by Newberry Library (Illinois), and the British Library St. Pancras. I think that the Free Library of Philadelphia may have it too. Ah. They do list it.
BTW:
1. Allegro -- 2. Cavatine -- 3. Allegro ma non troppo.