The present album is a multifaceted homage to French cello music, and features heavyweights of French cello literature, recorded by one of today's leading cellists: from Camille Saint-SaÃ«ns' The Swan, perhaps the most famous cello solo ever, to LÃ©on BoÃ«llmann's Variations symphoniques, combining playful wit with highly original form, contrasted by the sense of tragedy in Gabriel FaurÃ©'s Ã‰lÃ©gie. The two concertos by Saint-SaÃ«ns and Lalo represent weighty warhorses of the French cello repertoire which require not only technical mastery but, above all, musical penetration in order to highlight their subtleties. As an advocate of the ars gallica movement, Saint-SaÃ«ns included in his first cello concerto several allusions to the French baroque tradition, but also showed commitment to French clarity, turning his back on any bombast which was considered "Teutonic". Lalo's cello concerto, on the other hand, is highly expressive, energetic and very romantic, with the solo cello almost depicting the literary heroes of the time who populated the novels of Balzac, Hugo and Dumas pÃ¨re and fils.

Tracklist:

Variations Symphoniques, Op. 23
Cello Concerto No. 1 In A Minor, Op. 33, R. 193: I. Allegro Non Troppo
Cello Concerto No. 1 In A Minor, Op. 33, R. 193: II. Allegretto Con Moto
Cello Concerto No. 1 In A Minor, Op. 33, R. 193: III. Allegro Non Troppo
Élégie, Op. 24
Cello Concerto In D Minor: I. Prélude. Lento - Allegro Maestoso
Cello Concerto In D Minor: II. Intermezzo. Andantino Con Moto - Allegro Presto
Cello Concerto In D Minor: III. Introduction. Andante - Rondo (Allegro Vivace)
The Carnival Of The Animals, R. 125: XIII. The Swan (Le Cygne)

UPC: 4022143978028
Label: Audite
Release Date: 4.15.22
Format: CD

Boellmann / Coppey - French Cello (CD)