Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104

For his second solo recording, after his critically acclaimed recording of Haydn’s Cello Concertos (which inaugurated his exclusive recording contract with VC in 2003), Gautier Capuçon tackles Dvorak’s masterpiece for cello (his only cello concerto), and couples it with that of an unfortunately under-reputed composer of the era.

Gautier Capuçon is accompanied by Paavo Järvi who directs the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, to which Paavo Järvi has is music director since September 06.

Dvorák wrote the concerto while in New York for his third term as the Director of the National Conservatory after having listened to Victor Herbert’s (a fellow teacher at the Conservatory) second cello concerto in 1894. Up till then Dvorák had always refused, stating that the cello was a fine orchestral instrument but totally insufficient for a solo concerto.

Victor August Herbert (February 1, 1859 – May 26, 1924) was a cellist, conductor and composer of light opera. His Cello Concerto is a new asset to Virgin Classics’ catalogue. Quite rarely recorded, it isn’t today available on either VC’s or EMI Classics’ catalogue - Julian Lloyd Webber’s recording with Charles Mackerras and the London Symphony Orchestra on EMI isn’t available at this date.

‘Gautier Capuçon plays the cello with the control and wisdom of a much older musician. The lightness of his touch and the consistent clarity of his bow strokes are quite admirable in themselves, but when combined with an uncanny sweetness of tone in the higher registers they are breathtaking.’ Gramophone

Gregor Piatigorksy plays three of the most beautiful cello concertos in the classical repertoire, by Dvorak, Saint Saens and Tchaikovsky.

The personification of French elegance, Pierre Fournier (1906-1986) was without doubt from the gallery of great cellists amongst those being Casals, Rostropovich, Feuermann.

The programme featuring the Elgar and Dvorak concertos are familiar to Fournier devotees but these live performances from the WDR in Cologne have never been available before.

The Elgar is complimented by the participation of Hans Rosbaud, a formidable musician and conductor who made too few recordings. This is another live performance where the electricity before an audience is perceptibly greater than found in Fournier's 1966 studio account (11 years later than the Cologne recording) with Alfred Wallenstein.

The Dvorak conducted by the illustrious George Szell was taped after their studio recording a year before in 1961 and has that extra presence from a live performance. The WDR sound is exceptionally vivid.

The programme is completed by Beethoven's set of variations on themes from Mozart's Die Zauberflote, a comparative rarity in the Fournier discography.