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Project Home Page Timeline of cello concertos written during the 21stcentury
A total of 869 cello concertos completed during the 21st century so far were identified, of which 200 (23%) have been recorded and 669 appear to be unrecorded to date. Thus an average of about 38 concertos per year have been written so far this century, with 2019 the most fruitful year in all timelines to date, having 59 concertos identified. Some of the more recently composed concertos will surely be recorded e.g. Liebermann and Dean. However, it is surprising that the works by notable composers such as Vine, McCabe and Nyman have remained unrecorded for around 15 years. Prangcharoen's concerto can be heard on YouTube and I would hope this one will be recorded, along with all those just mentioned.
Recommendations
BaladaMichael Sanderling is the soloist in the composer's second concerto called New Orleans, an avant-garde work which has elements of spirituals and jazz.
Clyne This five-movement work is highly original, and I found Inbal Segev's performance and the recording stunning.
Farr A work of remembrance for the role of women in the First World War in a single span and often with a plangent tone, Sébastien Hurtaud's playing is suitably impassioned.
Joubert An autumnal two-movement work in which Raphael Wallfisch excels.
Kapustin His second concerto has the composer's usual jazz influences but with strong romantic overtones. Christine Rauh simply revels in it.
Lindberg As with his first concerto, No.2 makes a powerful impression in the expert hands of Anssi Karttunen.
David MatthewsGuy Johnston is the soloist in the Concerto in Azzurro and brings a lovely lilt to the concluding Lento section.
Muhly/Helbig/Zhou Long This multi-composer work called Three Continents hangs together well in the capable hands of Jan Vogler.
Patterson His concerto is atmospheric and cleverly constructed, and Raphael Wallfisch is an ideal soloist.
RaykhelsonAlexander Kniazev is the soloist in a work labelled "clever, thoughtful and often subtle" by the reviewer. And it has a key signature - B minor - the same key as Dvořák's great concerto!
Rautavaara His second concerto called Towards the Horizon came 40 years after the first but is similarly terse and telling, as played by Truls Mřrk.
RoremWen-Sinn Yang is the cellist in this highly imaginative concerto in eight parts, each with an interesting title.
Say The Turkish composer may be better known as a pianist but this is a very fine programmatic concerto which includes subtle use of birdsong. Camille Thomas plays it with conviction.
Tabakova In three movements leading us from turbulence through longing to radiance, this is a mesmerising work that is very well played by Kristina Blaumane.
Vasks His second concerto called Presence is one of the standout works of the period. Beginning with an extended cadenza, there is then an allegro followed by a long-breathed adagio. Sol Gabetta is an excellent soloist in the premiere recording.
Yoshimatsu A fine work called Centaurus Unit from the Neo-classical Japanese composer with dedicatee Peter Dixon as the soloist.
