Classical Music / Cello Concerto
The Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191, is a concerto for cello and orchestra. It is the last solo concerto by Antonín Dvořák. It was written in 1894–95 for his friend, the cellist Hanuš Wihan, but was premiered by the English cellist Leo Stern in London on March 19, 1896. It is one of the most frequently performed of all cello concerti, admired for the richness of its orchestral music and for the lyrical writing of the solo instrument, in this case, the cello.
Below is a re-discovered recording of Dvořák Cello Concerto in B, a concert performed by the brilliant cellist Jacqueline du Pré, with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim. It was held in tribute to the people of Czechoslovakia days after the Soviet Union invaded. Filmed live at the Royal Albert Hall in September 1968.
The piece is scored for a full romantic orchestra (with the exception of a 4th horn), containing two flutes (second doubling piccolo), two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, three horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle (last movement only), and strings. It follows a typical standard three-movement concerto format of fast, slow, and fast tempi:
The concerto opens with a broad orchestral statement, bringing in the soloist after the initial themes are introduced. At this point, the soloist restates those themes in a new and more elaborate fashion.
The melancholy second movement quotes a theme from one of Dvořák’s own songs, "Lass mich allein" (German), which means "Leave Me Alone." (The song had been a favourite of the composer’s sister-in-law Josefina, who then recently died. Having loved Josefina before he consented to marry her sister Anna, Dvořák here paid tribute to his first love.) In the final movement, the composer builds a rondo structure, and in its final bars, we hear brief recapitulations of melodies from the previous movements.
Video Credit:
Jacqueline du Pré - Dvořák Cello Concerto – London Symphony Orchestra cond. Daniel Barenboim. Youtube, uploaded by blue8348. Accessed Novmber 13, 2017.
Resources:
Cello Concerto (Dvořák). en.wikipedia.org. Accessed March 19, 2015.
Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104. Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed March 19, 2015.
(c) 2015-2017. Tel Asiado. Written for Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
The Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191, is a concerto for cello and orchestra. It is the last solo concerto by Antonín Dvořák. It was written in 1894–95 for his friend, the cellist Hanuš Wihan, but was premiered by the English cellist Leo Stern in London on March 19, 1896. It is one of the most frequently performed of all cello concerti, admired for the richness of its orchestral music and for the lyrical writing of the solo instrument, in this case, the cello.
Below is a re-discovered recording of Dvořák Cello Concerto in B, a concert performed by the brilliant cellist Jacqueline du Pré, with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim. It was held in tribute to the people of Czechoslovakia days after the Soviet Union invaded. Filmed live at the Royal Albert Hall in September 1968.
The piece is scored for a full romantic orchestra (with the exception of a 4th horn), containing two flutes (second doubling piccolo), two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, three horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle (last movement only), and strings. It follows a typical standard three-movement concerto format of fast, slow, and fast tempi:
- Allegro (B minor then B major, about 15 minutes)
- Adagio, ma non troppo (G major, about 12 minutes).
- Finale: Allegro moderato — Andante — Allegro vivo (B minor then B major; about 13 minutes)
The concerto opens with a broad orchestral statement, bringing in the soloist after the initial themes are introduced. At this point, the soloist restates those themes in a new and more elaborate fashion.
The melancholy second movement quotes a theme from one of Dvořák’s own songs, "Lass mich allein" (German), which means "Leave Me Alone." (The song had been a favourite of the composer’s sister-in-law Josefina, who then recently died. Having loved Josefina before he consented to marry her sister Anna, Dvořák here paid tribute to his first love.) In the final movement, the composer builds a rondo structure, and in its final bars, we hear brief recapitulations of melodies from the previous movements.
Video Credit:
Jacqueline du Pré - Dvořák Cello Concerto – London Symphony Orchestra cond. Daniel Barenboim. Youtube, uploaded by blue8348. Accessed Novmber 13, 2017.
Resources:
Cello Concerto (Dvořák). en.wikipedia.org. Accessed March 19, 2015.
Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104. Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed March 19, 2015.
(c) 2015-2017. Tel Asiado. Written for Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
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