Cello Concerto (Walton)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Walton
's Cello Concerto was written between February and October 1956, in Ischia
, on a commission from the Russian cellist Gregor Piatigorsky
, to whom he dedicated it.
It was first performed in Boston
on 25 January 1957, by Piatigorsky with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
under Charles Munch. It received its first British performance three weeks later, on 13 February 1957, again with Piatigorsky, this time with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
under Sir Malcolm Sargent
. It received its first recording shortly after this, with the original forces.
The concerto is in three movements:
The finale contains four improvisations, two each for orchestra alone and solo cello, and ends Adagio, quietly. Piatigorsky told Walton that the violinist Jascha Heifetz
had some reservations about the ending, so the composer provided an alternative ending, but ultimately his first version was what was premiered. In 1975 Piatigorsky himself asked Walton to revise the ending. He did so, but Piatigorsky's illness (and death) prevented him from performing that version, and it remains unheard.
The orchestration is:
The concerto has been described as subdued, brittle, lyrical, bittersweet, ruminative and introspective.
Walton regarded the Cello Concerto more favourably than his Violin
or Viola
concertos.
Walton's regular arranger, Roy Douglas
, made an arrangement for cello and piano.
Cellists who have recorded the concerto since Piatigorsky include Pierre Fournier
, Paul Tortelier
, János Starker
, Ralph Kirshbaum
, Yo-Yo Ma
, Raphael Wallfisch
, Lynn Harrell
, Pieter Wispelwey
, Julian Lloyd Webber
, Paul Watkins and others.
William Walton
Sir William Turner Walton OM was an English composer. During a sixty-year career, he wrote music in several classical genres and styles, from film scores to opera...
's Cello Concerto was written between February and October 1956, in Ischia
Ischia
Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It lies at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, about 30 km from the city of Naples. It is the largest of the Phlegrean Islands. Roughly trapezoidal in shape, it measures around 10 km east to west and 7 km north to south and has...
, on a commission from the Russian cellist Gregor Piatigorsky
Gregor Piatigorsky
Gregor Piatigorsky was a Russian-born American cellist.-Early life:...
, to whom he dedicated it.
It was first performed in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
on 25 January 1957, by Piatigorsky with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
under Charles Munch. It received its first British performance three weeks later, on 13 February 1957, again with Piatigorsky, this time with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
under Sir Malcolm Sargent
Malcolm Sargent
Sir Harold Malcolm Watts Sargent was an English conductor, organist and composer widely regarded as Britain's leading conductor of choral works...
. It received its first recording shortly after this, with the original forces.
The concerto is in three movements:
- Moderato
- Allegro appassionato
- Theme and improvisations.
The finale contains four improvisations, two each for orchestra alone and solo cello, and ends Adagio, quietly. Piatigorsky told Walton that the violinist Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
had some reservations about the ending, so the composer provided an alternative ending, but ultimately his first version was what was premiered. In 1975 Piatigorsky himself asked Walton to revise the ending. He did so, but Piatigorsky's illness (and death) prevented him from performing that version, and it remains unheard.
The orchestration is:
- 2 flutes (second doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (second doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets (second doubling bass clarinet), 2 bassoons (second doubling contrabassoon) – 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 percussion (vibraphone, xylophone, suspended cymbal, bass drum) – celesta – harp – strings.
The concerto has been described as subdued, brittle, lyrical, bittersweet, ruminative and introspective.
Walton regarded the Cello Concerto more favourably than his Violin
Violin Concerto (Walton)
The Violin Concerto of William Walton was written in 1938–39 and reorchestrated in 1943. It has three movements:#Andante tranquillo#Presto capriccioso alla napolitana#VivaceThe concerto was written for Jascha Heifetz, who commissioned it in 1936...
or Viola
Viola Concerto (Walton)
The Viola Concerto by William Walton was written in 1929 for the violist Lionel Tertis at the suggestion of Sir Thomas Beecham. The concerto carries the dedication "To Christabel" ....
concertos.
Walton's regular arranger, Roy Douglas
Roy Douglas
Roy Douglas is a British composer and arranger. He worked with Ralph Vaughan Williams and Richard Addinsell.-Works as composer:*Oboe quartet [1932]...
, made an arrangement for cello and piano.
Cellists who have recorded the concerto since Piatigorsky include Pierre Fournier
Pierre Fournier
Pierre Fournier was a French cellist who was called the "aristocrat of cellists," on account of his elegant musicianship and majestic sound....
, Paul Tortelier
Paul Tortelier
Paul Tortelier was a French cellist and composer.Tortelier was born in Paris, the son of a cabinet maker with Breton roots. He was encouraged to play the cello by his father Joseph and mother Marguerite , and at 12 he entered the Paris Conservatoire. He studied the cello there with Gérard Hekking...
, János Starker
János Starker
János Starker |Kingdom of Hungary]]) is a Hungarian-American cellist. Since 1958 he has taught at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he holds the title of Distinguished Professor.- Child prodigy :...
, Ralph Kirshbaum
Ralph Kirshbaum
Ralph Henry Kirshbaum is an American cellist currently living in Los Angeles. During his career he has performed solos with major orchestras worldwide, won prizes in several international competitions, and recorded extensively....
, Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma is an American cellist, virtuoso, and orchestral composer. He has received multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 2001 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011...
, Raphael Wallfisch
Raphael Wallfisch
Raphael Wallfisch is a British cellist.Wallfisch was born into a family of distinguished musicians, his father the pianist Peter Wallfisch and his mother the cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who is one of the last known surviving members of the Girl orchestra of Auschwitz...
, Lynn Harrell
Lynn Harrell
Lynn Harrell is an American classical cellist.-Biography:Harrell was born in New York City of musician parents; his father was the baritone Mack Harrell and his mother, Marjorie Fulton, was a violinist. At the age of eight he decided to learn to play the cello. When Lynn was 12, his family moved...
, Pieter Wispelwey
Pieter Wispelwey
Pieter Wispelwey is a Dutch cellist. In 1992 he was the first cellist to receive the Netherlands Music Prize, given to the most promising young musician in the Netherlands. He has come to be regarded as one of the world's leading cello soloists.Pieter Wispelwey was born in Haarlem and grew up in...
, Julian Lloyd Webber
Julian Lloyd Webber
Julian Lloyd Webber is a British solo cellist who has been described as the "doyen of British cellists".-Early life:Julian Lloyd Webber is the second son of the composer William Lloyd Webber and his wife Jean Johnstone . He is the younger brother of the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber...
, Paul Watkins and others.