Christian Poltera - Walton & Hindemith: Cello Concertos (2014)

Tracklist
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01. Cello Concerto: I. Moderato
02. Cello Concerto: II. Allegro appassionato
03. Cello Concerto: III. Tema ed improvvisazioni
04. Passacaglia for Cello
05. Cello Concerto: I. Mäßig schnell-Breit-Im Hauptzeitmaß
06. Cello Concerto: II. Ruhig bewegt-Sehr lebhaft-Im früheren langsamen Zeitmaß
07. Cello Concerto: III. Marsch. Lebhaft-Trio-Lebhafter
08. Cello Sonata, Op. 25 No. 3: I. Lebhaft, sehr markiert
09. Cello Sonata, Op. 25 No. 3: II. Mäßig schnell, Gemächlich
10. Cello Sonata, Op. 25 No. 3: III. Langsam
11. Cello Sonata, Op. 25 No. 3: IV. Lebhafte Viertel
12. Cello Sonata, Op. 25 No. 3: V. Mäßig schnell

Paul Hindemith and William Walton enjoyed a long friendship, and just a few months before Hindemith’s death in 1963 Walton celebrated the association with his orchestral Variations on a Theme of Hindemith, based on the principal theme of the slow movement of Hindemith’s Cello Concerto.

Both works are expansive three-movement pieces, employing large forces - Walton’s concerto memorably includes a vibraphone, while Hindemith in his Finale gives the celesta an important role.

As a contrast to these two powerful mid-century scores, Christian Poltéra also performs solo works by the two composers. He is supported by the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra (OSESP), widely acclaimed for its recordings of the music of Villa-Lobos, and for a performance (conducted by Frank Shipway) of Richard Strauss’ Alpensymfonie, which was nominated for a 2014 BBC Music Magazine Award.