Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. posth. (1888) [23:16]
Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 52 (1943) [17:59]
Cello Concerto in G major, Op. 42 (1935) [14:22]
Duo for cello, violin and small orchestra, Op. 43 (1937) [14:22]
Alban Gerhardt (cello)
Gergana Gergova (violin) (Duo)
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin/Sebastian Weigle
rec. 18-21 June 2012, Haus des Rundfunks, Berlin, Germany
The Romantic Cello Concerto - Volume 4
HYPERION CDA67906 [67:30]
The four works here featuring the cello as a solo instrument are from
the pen of German post-Romantic composer Hans Pfitzner. A self-described
anti-modernist and passionately nationalist Pfitzner was actually Russian-born.
His music is rarely heard with the exception of occasional revivals of
his opera Palestrina or ‘musical legend’ as he called
it, or orchestral extracts from it. Of all the claims made for the various
merits of neglected composers I believe Pfitzner’s music makes one
of the strongest. My recent discoveries have included his Quintet
for piano and string quartet (1908), the Sextet for clarinet,
violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano (1946) and the Piano Concerto,
Op. 31 (1922). His four string quartets warrant further investigation.
The Cello Concerto in A minor was written in 1888 whilst Pfitzner
was still a student at Frankfurt’s Hoch Conservatory but was a work
unloved by his teachers. During the composer’s lifetime the manuscript
was lost and lay unperformed until 1977 with publication the following
year. Taking here just over twenty-three minutes the work is in two substantial
sections. I especially enjoyed the aching tenderness Gerhardt finds in
the second section marked Adagio molto tranquillo.
Nearly fifty years later the Cello Concerto in G major, Op. 42
was written for Gaspar Cassadó. Relatively short in duration at
just over fourteen minutes the score is designed in a single continuous
span indexed here into five sections. Its second movement is imbued with
lyricism and is notable for its wide dynamics and contrasting moods.
A couple of years prior to the outbreak of the Second World War in 1937
Pfitzner wrote his attractive if not particularly memorable Duo
for cello, violin and small orchestra, Op. 43. At just under twelve minutes
this compact work without a key signature has a single movement span with
three discrete sections. It feels as if the two instruments are engaged
in deep conversation. Bathed in warm summer sun the melodic Finale,
marked Ganze Takte, is especially attractive.
Composed in 1943 in the midst of the Second World War the last of Pfitzner’s
concertos is the Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 52. The composer
weaves in the main theme from his teenage Cello Concerto in the
same key. Divided into four movements this is a modestly scored work.
I found the second movement marked Nicht zu schnell both briskly
energetic and windswept. I was captivated by the following calm and poignant
Feierlich.
These lyrical, highly agreeable, undemanding and highly Romantic concertos
inhabit a similar sound-world. In truth they offer little in the way of
dramatic tension.
Cellist Alban Gerhardt a composed and elegant player, who I have seen
a couple of times in live concert, is at one with these scores and takes
them all in his stride. With exemplary, highly refined playing he aptly
displays the beautiful tone of his Matteo Goffriller cello. In the Duo
violinist Gergova playing her Guadagnini is beautifully poised and does
everything the score asks of her. The excellent Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester
Berlin under Sebastian Weigle earns top marks as a constantly sympathetic
partner. This Hyperion release has been beautifully recorded at the Haus
des Rundfunks, Berlin in 2012 by the team of Eadon, Keener and Perry.
It would be hard to imagine Pfitzner’s Cello Concertos
and Duo receiving finer performances.
Michael Cookson
Previous reviews: David
Barker and Rob Barnett
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Previous reviews: David
Barker and Rob Barnett