Customer Reviews

Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante; Tcherepnin: Suite for Cello Solo; Crumb: Sonata for Solo Cello

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There are many who find Prokofiev's first go at a Cello Concerto, even revamped later and now known as the 'Sinfornia Concertante', a bit of a bore. And in comparison to the composer's more impressive works it does seem a minor effort. But here the gifted Dutch cellist Pieter Wispelwey finally makes the shortcomings of the piece less important than the inherent beauty. The work is strangely composed with an opening and closing andante sections disrupted by a overly long and uncomfortable central allegro. Amazingly enough in this live performance with Vassily Sinaisky conducting the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra Wispelwey plays with energy and focus and demonstrates his usual inordinately attractive cello tone, tossing off the technical fireworks with ease and manages to bring the work to a sensible end - no mean feat.

The other works on the CD are performances of Tcherepnin's brief 'Suite for Cello Solo' (lovely if not too remarkable) and the fascinating 'Sonata for Solo Cello' best described in the following descriptor: 'Completed in Berlin in October, 1955, the Cello Sonata dates from Crumb's student days and reflects well-established traditions of composition for solo cello. The opening Fantasia is based upon the interval of a descending minor third, first heard after a series of plucked chords. The middle movement consists of a theme in binary form, three variations, and a coda in which the theme is repeated on muted strings. The final Toccata is again dominated by thirds which are played in both rising and falling patterns.' Well stated - and well performed by Wispelwey.

Though there is a plethora of fine young cellists before the public today, Pieter Wispelwey deserves far more attention with American Orchestras. He is a very fine musician in every aspect - intelligence, technique, and musicality. Grady Harp, April 11

Great recording quality; brilliant playing. Best of the many recordings of Prokofiev's work that I have. The Tcherepnin is a real find. Crumb less interesting.