Grandest Lines
Donald Tovey's
cello concerto -
heard by
ROBERT ANDERSON'... satisfyingly masterful.'
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This concerto of 1935 must be the longest piece of its kind, whether in the standard repertoire or not. That it was Tovey's last original work (cadenzas to Beethoven and Brahms concerto may have come later) was due to a misunderstanding typical of Tovey the man. He had first played with Casals a quarter-century before, and the musical partnership had developed along with increasing personal friendship. The idea of a concerto for Casals might have occurred to Tovey at any time once his Bride of Dionysus opera was out of the way. But unfortunately Tovey discovered that Casals was not exactly married to the very striking Guilhermina Suggia who shared his life, and a lengthy coolness ensued...
Copyright © 8 June 2010
Robert Anderson,
London UK
CD INFORMATION: TOVEY CELLO CONCERTO; AIR; ELEGIAC VARIATIONS
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