Showcasing The Cello

This month's edition of BBC Music magazine had a cello theme which was followed through by the free cover disc of two cello concertos, Saint-Saens's Cello Concerto No 1 and Walton's Cello Concerto. The Saint-Saens is written in one continuous span, though there are distinct passages in the piece which more or less folllow the traditional three movement convention anyway. It is an important early piece in the genre of cello concertos for the way in which Saint-Saens combats successfully the difficulties of balancing the instrument with the orchestra. It is given a fine performance here by ex BBC New Generation Artist scheme member Andreas Brantelid with the BBC Philharmonic and their upcoming new chief conductor Juanjo Mena. The BBC Philharmonic also feature in the Walton concerto under Tuomas Hannikainen and accompanying soloist Paul Watkins. Walton's concerto was his favourite among the three he wrote ( the others for violin and viola ) and it is more introverted and low key than the Saint-Saens, so much so that the original commissioner Piatigorsky pestered Walton to change the ending to a more grandstanding crowd pleasing finale. Such an ending was written but here, as is normally the case, it is the graceful elegiac completion that is performed.