Concierto como un divertimento
Encyclopedia
Joaquín Rodrigo
's Concierto como un divertimento, for cello and orchestra received its first performance at the Royal Festival Hall
, London, on April 15, 1982. The performers were the British cellist Julian Lloyd Webber
, who had commissioned the concerto
, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Jesús López-Cobos
. Lloyd Webber had approached the Spanish composer, who was by then nearly eighty, with the idea of him writing a new work for cello and orchestra in 1979. Concierto como un divertimento is lightly scored but with the added colours of xylophone
and celesta
. It is cast in three movements:
The work was well received at its premiere when the final movement had to be encored. The concerto and its creation was the subject of a South Bank Show television programme which included the complete first performance. The concerto was subsequently recorded for RCA Red Seal with the same performers.
Joaquín Rodrigo
Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre, 1st Marquis of the Gardens of Aranjuez , commonly known as Joaquín Rodrigo, was a composer of classical music and a virtuoso pianist. Despite being nearly blind from an early age, he achieved great success...
's Concierto como un divertimento, for cello and orchestra received its first performance at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
, London, on April 15, 1982. The performers were the British cellist 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...
, who had commissioned the concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
conducted by Jesús López-Cobos
Jesús López-Cobos
Jesús López-Cobos is a Spanish conductor.López-Cobos was born in Toro, Zamora, Castile-León, Spain. He studied at Complutense University of Madrid and graduated with a degree in philosophy...
. Lloyd Webber had approached the Spanish composer, who was by then nearly eighty, with the idea of him writing a new work for cello and orchestra in 1979. Concierto como un divertimento is lightly scored but with the added colours of xylophone
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
and celesta
Celesta
The celesta or celeste is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. Its appearance is similar to that of an upright piano or of a large wooden music box . The keys are connected to hammers which strike a graduated set of metal plates suspended over wooden resonators...
. It is cast in three movements:
- Allegretto
- Adagio nostalgico
- Allegro scherzando
The work was well received at its premiere when the final movement had to be encored. The concerto and its creation was the subject of a South Bank Show television programme which included the complete first performance. The concerto was subsequently recorded for RCA Red Seal with the same performers.