Recently I have
been comparing three recordings of the Martinů Cello Concertos.
This one differs from the Kontrapunkt and Chandos discs in that
Supraphon give us only the two concertos while the Concertino
(1924), written in Paris, was generously added to the other two.
The Supraphon was originally issued in 1984 and
my original CD version was manufactured by Denon in Japan under
the number 33C37-7868. The soloist is Angelica May with the Czech
PO conducted by Václav Neumann. This has been now reissued
in the UK via Koch International under a different number: SU
3543-2 031. The Chandos is on CHAN 9015 and the soloist is
that champion of the neglected cello repertoire, Raphael Wallfisch.
The orchestra is the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Jiří
Bĕlohlávek.
Angelica May and
Neumann tear into both concertos with a vivid and unshakably confident
will that brooks no blandness. Neumann and the Czech Phil are
steeped in the Martinů idiom in a way that Peter Csaba and
his Danish orchestra could only hope to emulate. In addition
the orchestral tone reaches out and touches the listener in a
way that eludes Kontrapunkt's engineers. The tone of the Czech
trumpets and woodwind also adds an unreplaceable savour to the
musicmaking. The downside is that there is a hint of early digital
glare on the massed strings at anything above forte. This
is especially noticeable in the burly allegro finales with their
blend of Olympian address from Bachian eminence and thunderous
rhythmic emphasis.
Rob Barnett
Wallfisch (Chandos)
Cello Concerto No. 1 [26.01]
Cello Concerto No. 2 [35.58]
Concertino [13.52]
Fukačová (Kontrapunkt)
Cello Concerto No. 1 [27.44]
Cello Concerto No. 2 [36.36]
Concertino [13.35]
May (Supraphon)
Cello Concerto No. 1 [27.32]
Cello Concerto No. 2 [36.27]
Angelica May (cello)