Favorite Cello Concerto

[hornteacher]

I think I covered all the major ones.  Which are your favorites, and why?

For me it must be Dvorak.  The melodies are just so gorgeous and the interplay between the soloist and orchestra is perfect.

[ChamberNut]

Hands down I prefer the Dvorak concerto the most.  Also like the Schumann concerto, but that one took quite awhile to warm up to.

I'd have voted for the Brahms concerto, but I guess it would only be worth 0.5 of a vote anyhow.   

[not edward]

Dvorak and Lutoslawski with an honourable mention for the second Shostakovich and the Elgar.

[Bogey]

Dvořák.

Favorite recordings:

   

[Brian]

The Dvorak concerto. I have performances by Fournier, Rostropovich, Bruns, Queyras, Kliegel, Du Pre, and Ma, and love them all. This piece has a special place in my heart. 

[Bach Man]

I like C.P.E. Bach's Wq170. It may not quite be up there with Dvorak, but his three cello concertos should at least be elevated to major status.

[btpaul674]

Rautavaara.

[Renfield]

Dvořák, and the Elgar; voted for both.

[springrite]

Elgar and Prokofiev Sinfonina Concertante

[eyeresist]

Only reason not to vote for the Dvorak is its richness - like a light fruit cake crossed with a chocolate mud cake. SO much good stuff!



(I voted Dvorak.)



(I'm hungry.)

[val]

My two votes go to Elgar's Concerto and Haydn's Concerto in D major.

[The new erato]

Both by Shostakovich + Schnittke 2 are my favorites.

Another weak spots for me are F Martin and Honegger (slight but fun)

Dvorak and Elgar are great but smells too much of warhorses to me to listen to regularly.

Didn't notice Brittens Cello Symphony and Prokofievs Symphonia Concertante which I think belongs in the poll. As well as the Dutilleux.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Elgar - Schumann (- Delius)

[The new erato]

Elgar - Schumann (- Delius)

Delius? Interesting, guess I'll have to pull that out of the locker sometime soon.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Delius? Interesting, guess I'll have to pull that out of the locker sometime soon.

Do. There are some glorious things there...

[springrite]

Do. There are some glorious things there...

Admit it. You said Delius because Brian did not compose a cello concerto and the Delius is the closest to what Brian might have composed had he composed a cello concerto.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Admit it. You said Delius because Brian did not compose a cello concerto and the Delius is the closest to what Brian might have composed had he composed a cello concerto.

But Brian did write a Cello Concerto - a very late work -  Which, alas, I don't know (it seems to be rather slight...) and which, if you know Brian's late style, wouldn't sound a bit like Delius! Brian's great Violin Concerto, on the other hand, well, there is a whiff of Delius there, but more in spirit than in musical substance... To be clear - Brian and Delius are two very different composers (power and beauty, I always think).

[springrite]

But Brian did write a Cello Concerto - a very late work -  Which, alas, I don't know (it seems to be rather slight...) and which, if you know Brian's late style, wouldn't sound a bit like Delius! Brian's great Violin Concerto, on the other hand, well, there is a whiff of Delius there, but more in spirit than in musical substance...

I have you to thank for pointing me to the Brian Violin Concerto. It was one of my finds of the year 2007.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I have you to thank for pointing me to the Brian Violin Concerto. It was one of my finds of the year 2007.

Wonderful news! Could you tell me what you like about it?

(If you do, I'll read it later - I'm off to Amsterdam, to friends...)

[The new erato]

I seem to have read somewhere (I know this isn't very helpful  ) that the Brian cello concerto was up for issue on some disc...Somebody remember more?