Bridge: Oration; Elgar: Cello Concerto; Holst: Invocation [Import]

Wallfisch (Artist), Raphael: vc..... (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 13, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Nimbus Records
• ASIN: B000EXZGR0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #665,990 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

"Wallfisch is a consummate musician – nothing could be unmusical in his hands." -THE INDEPENDENT

These three notable British works for cello and orchestra from the early twentieth century – two of them, the Elgar and the Bridge, ranking among the finest for the medium ever written by British composers – are linked by various strands, both circumstantial and expressive. This is, surprisingly, the first time Raphael Wallfisch has ever recorded the Elgar Cello Concerto. The Elgar Cello Concerto is performed from a brand new edition that has corrected some significant note errors in previous editions. Born in London in 1953 to a musical family, Raphael Wallfisch studied cello with Gregor Piatigorsky and, at a young age, performed chamber music with Jascha Heifetz. Since winning the prestigious Gaspar Cassadó competition at age twenty-four, he has enjoyed a worldwide career with all the greatest orchestras, and has made numerous recordings. Britain’s leading composers have written works especially for him. "London-based cellist Raphael Wallfisch turned in a superb interpretation of this complicated work. Mustering more than enough tone and presence to cut through Elgar's often thick orchestral sound, Wallfisch got the emotional balance of the work just right, innately understanding Elgar's poetry as well as his swagger. Tovey matched his soloist's maturity and depth, keeping the orchestra tastefully in check while demonstrating the work's compelling blend of the intimate and the heroic, ever underpinned by melancholy." – David Gordon Duke, VANCOUVER SUN

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars three great British works for cello & orchestra, July 21, 2007

By 

jsa (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bridge: Oration; Elgar: Cello Concerto; Holst: Invocation (Audio CD)

Even though I have the classic du Pre/Barbirolli recording of the Elgar cello concerto in my collection, I bought this cd because I wanted Bridge's "Oration" and Holst's "Invocation," neither of which I was familiar with. Both, as it turns out, are unusual works and make excellent discmates for the the Elgar concerto. Bridge's "Oration" consists of eight fairly brief movements and runs 32 minutes. The liner notes refer to Bridge's war-time experiences as the basis for this compostion, however, I rarely have any programatic aspect in mind when listening to music. Whatever was in the composer's mind ultimately becomes irrelevant as thoughts are given musical expression - it is music we are hearing, not words that we are reading. And what the composer may have felt or tried to express may not be at all what I hear. As for "Oration," it is haunting & imaginative and my appreciation of it increases with repeated listenings.

Gustav Holst's "Invocation" is very beautiful. It was written in 1911 and fell into obscurity until the 1980's when the composer's daughter, Imogen, supported its revival. Like many of Holst's works, it reflects his interest in eastern spirituality with apparently some relationship between the material and the Rig Veda.

The Elgar concerto, which is sandwiched between the Bridge and Holst pieces, receives a very atmospheric reading and buyers who already have this music will not be at all disappointed by having another version.

Raphael Wallifisch, a fine cellist who has recorded extensively in the British repertory, is well supported in all three works by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. The sound is also very good, although I found I had to fiddle with the volume controls as the recording level seemed to be on the low side.

Warmly recommended.