Ginastera: Cello Concertos

Album review

One of the most celebrated Argentine composers of all time and certainly among the most notable Latin American composers of the 20th century, the music of Alberto Ginastera was heavily influenced not only by the pervasive rhythms and folk melodies of his country, but also his decisive musical intellect and passionate underpinnings. He penned several works for the cello, and eventually took the famed cellist Aurora Nàtola as his second wife. This union inspired a large-scale revision of his First Cello Concerto (which Nàtola premiered under Rostropovich's baton), and the composition of the Second Concerto in 1980, a virtual reenactment and tribute to the couple's life together. Both of these concertos possess formidable technical challenges to both soloist and orchestra, yet Ginastera's intertwining of intellect, musicality, and folk influence make them both satisfying, engulfing experiences for listeners. Ginastera was a master orchestrator as evidenced not only by the endless variety of colors and textures he coaxes from the orchestra, but also the ingenious way that he scores for the solo cello so that issues of balance rarely come into play. Cellist Mark Kosower takes full advantage of this during his performances of the two concertos with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Despite the lofty technical demands, Kosower's playing still manages to seem relaxed and at ease, his sound never forced in an effort to overcome the orchestra. Both Kosower and conductor Lothar Zagrosek interpret Ginastera's works admirably, focusing heavily on precise rhythmic integrity. Listeners unfamiliar with these two highly worthwhile concertos would be hard pressed to find a more reliable, pristine performance.
© TiVo

Details of original recording : 68:58 - DDD - Enregistré du 21 au 25 avril 2009 (Concerto n°1) et en "live" les 17 et 18 mars 2010 (Concerto n° 2) à Bamberg en Allemagne - Notes en anglais