Classica-Répertoire 10.
This album features two of the most significant 20th-century cello concertos by Polish composers Witold Lutosławski and Krzysztof Penderecki, performed by Torleif Thedéen with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leif Segerstam.
Lutosławski’s Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (1970), commissioned by Mstislav Rostropovich, is a dramatic and intense work structured in a single movement with distinct sections. It presents a series of conflicts between the soloist and orchestra, culminating in a powerful and emotional resolution. The concerto showcases Lutosławski’s masterful use of orchestration, contrasting the lyrical expressiveness of the cello with bold, at times aggressive, orchestral responses.
Penderecki’s Cello Concerto No. 2 (1982), also written for Rostropovich, represents a shift in the composer’s style from avant-garde experimentation to a more post-romantic, lyrical language. The work unfolds in a continuous, dramatic arc, filled with expressive melodies, intense climaxes, and intricate orchestral textures. It reflects Penderecki’s deep understanding of the cello’s capabilities, offering moments of both grand symphonic power and intimate expressiveness.
This recording captures the depth and complexity of these two modern masterpieces, highlighting Thedéen’s technical brilliance and interpretative sensitivity, alongside Segerstam’s commanding leadership of the orchestra.
Extra material for download
