Young Musicians Final - What Cello Concerto SHOULD she have played ?

[gamba]

Well, I was spellbound by the Walton concerto. It is a lovely piece which grows on you (well me anyway) as you get to know it. It's beauty derives from its sombre and soulful nature, and was IMO a great choice and quite out of the groove in not beginning or ending with the usual flourishes. Intonation is notoriously difficult for cellists and I can think of one great exponent (French) whose notes were not infallibly 'centred'. Well done Laura. Bloomin' brilliant!

PS Dare I say it, the Haydn concertos are a tad boring.

Not when played by Han-Na Chang !!

[teamsaint]

Not when played by Han-Na Chang !!

The good one is good !!( C major?)

[Pabmusic]

Well, I was spellbound by the Walton concerto. It is a lovely piece which grows on you (well me anyway) as you get to know it. It's beauty derives from its sombre and soulful nature, and was IMO a great choice and quite out of the groove in not beginning or ending with the usual flourishes. Intonation is notoriously difficult for cellists and I can think of one great exponent (French) whose notes were not infallibly 'centred'. Well done Laura. Bloomin' brilliant!

PS Dare I say it, the Haydn concertos are a tad boring.

Entirely agree! Even (sad to say) about the Haydn.

The opening of the Walton is magical.

If forced to choose another cello work, I'd plump for Frank Bridge's Oration.

[Panjandrum]

Not when played by Han-Na Chang !!

Or Maria Kliegel or Jackie du Pre or Milos Sadlo in the C major. I think this may be another case of familiarity breeding contempt etc. These are quite marvellous pieces.

[cloughie]

Why not? Not "flashy enough"? Insufficiently "musical"? She wasn't up to the work's demands? Doesn't use a twelve-note row?

She liked it; she won: the blazes with these "comments"!

I agree Ferney, and what a pleasant, talented young woman she is!

[3rd Viennese School]

I think Schnittke no 2 would have gone down rather well!

Failing that, Shostakovich no.2

[Beef Oven]

tishchenko - start as you mean to go on

[teamsaint]

tishchenko - start as you mean to go on

Bless you !!!!

Anyway, good is it?

I would suggest the Finzi, but we don't want it getting all popular, and bits of it played here there and everywhere.

[Hornspieler]

The one that won her the prize would seem to be the obvious answer. Maybe this thread should be titled "What Cello Concerto COULD she have played?"

HS

[MrGongGong]

The one that won her the prize would seem to be the obvious answer. Maybe this thread should be titled "What Cello Concerto COULD she have played?"

HS

(don't miss Jim Rattigan's gig if you are in London tonight )

[Boilk]

No mention of the Haydn Concertos. Very often, it's the easier ones to listen to which are the most difficult to perform perfectly and these are a good example.

Any evidence for this? Perhaps it's the easier ones to listen to which are "the most difficult to perform perfectly" because the audience knows every note, every major recording, and so spots the technical/interpretive flaws more readily.

Not sure I can see how the Haydn/Dvorak are more technically/interpretively demanding than the Lutoslawski or Dutilleux concertos, or even the Carter Cello Sonata. At least she spared us the notespinning concertos of DSCH

[Ariosto]

Any evidence for this? Perhaps it's the easier ones to listen to which are "the most difficult to perform perfectly" because the audience knows every note, every major recording, and so spots the technical/interpretive flaws more readily.

Not sure I can see how the Haydn/Dvorak are more technically/interpretively demanding than the Lutoslawski or Dutilleux concertos, or even the Carter Cello Sonata. At least she spared us the notespinning concertos of DSCH

Well, I have to disagree with you a bit here, with comment about DSCH, but I suppose that is a subjective thing. (But you winked so you might not be serious!!)

But to try and answer your questions about Haydn, yes, they may not be quite as demanding technically as other concertos, but like Mozart and Beethoven, they are difficult because they are not only exposed but need the most incredible control and quality of phrasing, and any small blemish will stand out. The opening of the Brahms violin concerto (a very great work in my opinion) is easier than the Beethoven violin concerto because it simply does not need to be controlled in the same way.

I do think the Walton cello concerto had a lot of exposed passages and was not an easy choice for the cellist.

[Bryn]

Well, I have to disagree with you a bit here, with comment about DSCH, but I suppose that is a subjective thing. (But you winked so you might not be serious!!)

But to try and answer your questions about Haydn, yes, they may not be quite as demanding technically as other concertos, but like Mozart and Beethoven, they are difficult because they are not only exposed but need the most incredible control and quality of phrasing, and any small blemish will stand out. The opening of the Brahms violin concerto (a very great work in my opinion) is easier than the Beethoven violin concerto because it simply does not need to be controlled in the same way.

I do think the Walton cello concerto had a lot of exposed passages and was not an easy choice for the cellist.

Much as it pains me to concur with you so soon after your return, Ariosto, I fell hook line and sinker for the Walton when I coughed up ten bob for a flood salvage Spanish RCA LP of the Piatigorsky/Munch recording in my youth. A very fine work indeed, and a well deserved win for Ms. Van Der Heijden.

Now which old recording should I spin now, the Fournier/Walton or the DVD of the Piatigorsky/Sargent?

[Ariosto]

Much as it pains me to concur with you so soon after your return, Ariosto, I fell hook line and sinker for the Walton when I coughed up ten bob for a flood salvage Spanish RCA LP of the Piatigorsky/Munch recording in my youth. A very fine work indeed, and a well deserved win for Ms. Van Der Heijden.

Now which old recording should I spin now, the Fournier/Walton or the DVD of the Piatigorsky/Sargent?

I have to admit that I did not really know the work that well, unlike the violin concerto, but realise that it has been my loss. I knew she was going to do it a couple or more weeks ago, as I was talking to a well known cellist who was giving a masterclass that I was taking part in, and had I had time I meant to get a CD and hear it before the final. So I can't make a recommendation. Which recording would you suggest out of all those available?

[BBMmk2]

She did choose well, but I still felt there was something missing in her performance? Am I being too picky?