Hans Gál and Edward Elgar: Cello Concertos
While he is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his winning the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition, cellist Antonio Meneses offers a release with two firsts: the world-premiere recording of Hans Gál’s Cello Concerto, and his first recording of the Elgar Cello Concerto.
Elgar:
- Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
Gál:
- Cello Concerto, Op. 67
Performed by Antonio Meneses (cello), with the Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Claudio Cruz
Audio CD will be introduced on June 12, 2012
This year Antonio Meneses celebrates the 30th anniversary of winning the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition, which launched the cellist’s international career and a string of acclaimed recordings. His latest includes a couple of firsts: the world-premiere recording of the Cello Concerto by Hans Gál, and Mr. Meneses’ first recording of the Elgar Concerto.
Bringing the Gál Concerto to light reveals the commonality between the two works. With beautiful, broad orchestral brushstrokes, neither is a dazzling virtuoso showpiece, rather both are lyrical, contemplative, and quite full of sadness. Both were written in the UK, Elgar’s in the Sussex countryside where he retired, Gál’s in Edinburgh where he settled after escaping Nazi persecution in the 1930s.
Elgar wrote his last major work in the aftermath of World War I, by which time his music had gone out of fashion – a circumstance difficult to fathom today. Gál’s Cello Concerto was completed in the years following World War II. Throughout his long career Gál adhered steadfastly to his lyrical compositional style which was usurped by post-war modernism. Today his music is being rediscovered and appreciated anew.
Here is P. I. Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, with Antonio Meneses, Cello
And next, here is the Chopin Cello Sonata (3rd mvt) with Antonio Meneses and Gülsin Onay, piano
Tags: Antonio Meneses, Cello, Elgar, Gal