This is a lovely disc, a well chosen programme, and a well thought out visual presentation, Cello Concerto's don't get the same rap as either their piano or violin counterparts, unless of course you're Dvorak or Elgar, and of course the 'theme' of this disc is French Composers, there are so many other Cello Concerto's out there i have yet to taste, but it's good to delve into these deeper, very rewarding indeed, the recording isn't great, it needs more transparency, it's too close and dull, there's a hint of mono-ness to it.
Sophie Rolland is Canadian, she's now 51, she recorded this disc in 1993, the booklet photograph [by Julian Easten] is what first brought my attention to this disc, a superb idea for a portrait, full body height shot showing the cello, the lovely wisp of movement shown in the trailing dress, and the back heel, the highlights in the wood of the cello and the polished floor really add some sheen to the shot, and the open draped windows looking out onto the decorative wall, topping it all is the light coloured box with the lettering in, which is opaque to see the background through, though the cello remains in bold over it, a very well thought out booklet indeed, and it just makes an excellent disc of music into something altogether greater.
Well it's the first movement which is full of dramatic intensity, the beginning sounds sinister, with strong orchestral forte exclamations throughout [0:00-0:29], it certainly has you on the edge of your seat, and one after another there's five of these forte 'full stops' in a row [1:16-1:20], however there's also hints of something more softer and sweeter trying to poke through the anger, and this takes on full blown proportions like a slow movement within the first movement [3:17-4:51], loads of tenderness and gentleness here, the music however much it tries to escape, keeps coming back to the opening phrases, the aching tender cello strains return [7:37+], the first movement is more like a Fantasy for Cello and Orchestra, it's like a love / hate relationship in a marriage, there's anger and sweetness interspersed, like a couple that have a blazing row, then kiss and make up, only to row and kiss again, and again and again, the movement ends on a serious note of dramatic yelling! [12:55-13:15], very powerful extremes of light and dark, i love it, oh, and it's in D Minor, my key of 'death'.
Here's Rocco Filippini playing the first movement on YouTube.
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