Tchaikovsky: Nocturne for cello & small orchestra (or cello & piano), Op. 19 No. 4

Zuill Bailey, the dynamic and exhilarating American cellist, makes his Telarc debut with the release of Russian Masterpieces for Cello. The recording includes Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme Pezzo Capriccioso and Nocturne in D Minor Op. 19 No. 4, and Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 107. Zuill Bailey’s rare combination of compelling artistry, technical finesse and engaging personality have secured his place as one of the most sought-after cellists today. Bailey performs regularly with long-time duo partner, pianist Awadagin Pratt, as well as with pianist Simone Dinnerstein. He is also a member of the acclaimed Perlman-Schmidt-Bailey Trio, which also includes pianist Navah Perlman and violinist Giora Schmidt.

The voice of the cello is uniquely suited to the qualities of passion and melancholy that makes Russian music so provocative to listeners. Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations was written for the German-born cellist Wilhelm Fitzenhagen, a professor at the Moscow Conservatory. When Tchaikovsky left Russia for a lengthy stay in Western Europe, he gave Fitzenhagen a free hand in composition, which resulted in significant structural alterations to the piece. The cellist premiered his version of the Rococo Variations at a Moscow concert conducted by Nikolai Rubinstein in 1877. Tchaikovsky was displeased with the alterations, but later said, “The devil take it. Let it stay as it is.” The Fitzenhagen score is heard in Bailey’s rendition, and is considered an effective presentation of Tchaikovsky’s material.

Shostakovich wrote his first cello concerto in 1959 for the distinguished cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, who had frequently performed Shostakovich’s Sonata for Cello and Piano with the composer at the piano. It was premiered in Leningrad with the Leningrad Philharmonic and Rostropovich. When Shostakovich gave his only public performance as a conductor in 1962, the Concerto appeared on the programme.

A gorgeous disc of wonderfully lyrical nocturnes written for solo piano and performed here by Sira Hernandez. Includes repertoire from John Field, Borodin, Scriabin, Satie, Britten and many more.

While Rachmaninov evokes purity in his 'Vocalise', Shostakovich intones a swansong, a song of death. In the warm timbre of Gérard Caussé's viola and the generous sonority of Brigitte Engerer's piano, all the melancholy and tenderness of Russia finds eloquent expression.

The cello, with its deep melancholic timbre, touched a sensitive chord with Tchaikovsky. He wrote some beautiful concertante works for this instrument, which are gathered here complete on one CD.

The most famous are the Rococo variations, taking a gallant theme as the basis for a fascinating set of variations in widely varying moods.

Beautiful performances, full of Russian Soul by Alexander Rudin (a pupil of Daniil Shafran).

Here’s another fine disc, unavailable for some time, now receiving a new lease of life, and with no significant competition. It’s true that the complete works for cello and orchestra amount to less than half this disc’s duration, comprising as they do a couple of miniatures (the Pezzo Capriccioso and Nocturne) and the evergreen Rococo Variations. But the first point of importance is that the fine Russian cellist Alexander Rudin plays the original version of the score, and not the much more widely available piece of well-meaning butchery by a cellist of Tchaikovsky’s own time,Wilhelm Fitzenhagen. Fitzenhagen fiddled around with the order of the variations and left one out altogether, as well as somewhat simplifying the composer’s original and strenuous but effective demands upon the soloist. A return to the original reveals what we have been missing in the way of a rather more substantial and coherent work, and there are but one or two rival versions on the market.

In addition, Rudin complements the Variations with the gorgeous interlude from Swan Lake that features a solo cello, as well as an arrangement of the famous Andante cantabile from the First String Quartet. He then conducts this Muscovy orchestra himself in the Serenade for Strings. Alexander Rudin was born in 1960 and studied with the cello legend Daniil Shafran. His pedigree in this music is impeccable.

World Première Recordings of Carl Davidoff’s third and fourth Cello Concertos.

Also included is Tchaikovsky’s complete oeuvre for Cello and Orchestra.