Day 12: Variations on a Rococo theme, Tchaikovsky

Day 12: Variations on a Rococo theme, Tchaikovsky

As I haven’t got a copy of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Variations (for cello), written for his brother, Julian, and made popular by the South Bank Show, I thought I’d listen to Tchaikovsky’s Rococo variations, which are also for cello. Now, I’ve already told you that my favourite composer is Saint-Saens, but I didn’t mention that one of my favourite instruments is the cello!

Ofra Harnoy and the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Charles Mackerras do a wonderful job with this piece (another CD from Abergavenny Music!). This was a lovely piece of music, but it wasn’t as obvious to me that this was a set of variations as I remember the Lloyd Webber to be, or as I know Beethoven or Mozart variations to be. After the theme is played there are 8 variations, which are played without a break. This was 18 minutes of lovely playing and helped to keep me relaxed.

 

Day 4: Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No.1

Day 4: 23 April 2012. Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No.1 in A minor, Op.33

What you probably don’t know is that Saint-Saens is my favouritist composer in the world – ever!

I don’t actually have a vast collection of his music, but absolutely everything I have is just utterly magnificent!

I recently bought a copy of the cello concerto from a music shop in Leamington Spa, where they had a marvellous collection of CDs to rifle through! That particular CD had two Saint-Saens cello concertos (yes, In know it should be concerti, but it just doesn’t roll off the tongue!) on it, which was why I bought it. Despite this, the one I listened to today was my original copy of the first concerto, a recording of Paul Tortelier being conducted by his son, Yan Pascal. I actually heard them performing this together way back in the 80s in London, so this rendition is a particular favourite.

My only regret with this piece is that it is so short! At just over 18 minutes, I sometimes feel a bit short-changed! I wanna hear more!! Compare this to Haydn’s concerto in C, at just over 25 minutes, the Bliss at just over 26 minutes and the Elgar at just over 30 minutes. Mind you, Saint-Saens’ second cello concerto is even shorter at 17 minutes!!

I guess the tempo markings of Allegro-Allegretto-Allegro should be a clue that this is not going to be a slow and gushing piece! More like fast and frenetic! That doesn’t mean it’s a concerto a la classical tradition; this is a romantic piece, whose tunes draw you in and tug at your heart strings! The perfect combination: Saint-Saens and the cello!