Laura van der Heijden joins the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and conductor Ryan Wigglesworth for this album of British cello concertos. Frank Bridge's Oration, composed in 1929 - 30 was intended as an outcry against the inhumanity of warfare, and a tribute to the victims of the First World War. It's arch form single continuous movement exhibits the intense chromaticism typical of Bridge's output from this era. Commissioned by the Ukrainian-born cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, Walton's Cello Concerto suffered a number of difficulties with regard to first performances (Piatigorsky suffered a mental breakdown; Walton missed the UK premiere because of a nasty road accident) but it has nevertheless become a staple of the repertoire. It was with this concerto that Laura van der Heijden won the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, in 2012. The young British composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and then the University of Cambridge and King's College London, and rapidly established herself as one of the most talented and prolific composers of her generation. Earth, Sea, Air was written for van der Heijden, who gave the work's premiere in Glasgow in 2023, a week before making this recording with the same forces.

Tracklist:

Oration (Concerto elegiaco) for cello and orchestra~Poco lento - Lento e ritmico -
Oration (Concerto elegiaco) for cello and orchestra~Allegro -
Oration (Concerto elegiaco) for cello and orchestra~Ben moderato (poco lento) - Poco lento -
Oration (Concerto elegiaco) for cello and orchestra~Allegro giusto - Tranquillo -
Oration (Concerto elegiaco) for cello and orchestra~Ben moderato, mesto e tranquillo - Cadenza - [Without tempo marking] - Caden
Oration (Concerto elegiaco) for cello and orchestra~Allegro -
Oration (Concerto elegiaco) for cello and orchestra~Lento -
Oration (Concerto elegiaco) for cello and orchestra~Epilogue. Andate tranquillo
Cello Concerto "Earth, Sea, Air"~
Earth. Allegro - Poco meno mosso - Tempo I - Rubato - Andante - Meno mosso -
Cello Concerto "Earth, Sea, Air"~
Sea. Larghetto - Adagietto - Poco accelerando -
Cello Concerto "Earth, Sea, Air"~
Air. Presto giocoso - Poco meno mosso
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra~I. Moderato - A tempo I, ma poco meno mosso
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra~II. Allegro appassionato
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra~III. Tema ed improvvisazioni

UPC: 095115534625
Label: Chandos
Release Date: 6.21.24
Format: CD

Bridge / Walton / Bbc Scottish Symphony Orchestra - Earth, Sea, Air - British Music For Cello & Orch (CD)