Progetto Martha Argerich

italiano

Works

Dimitri Shostakovic

Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 107

 

Dimitri Shostakovich composed two cello concertos and dedicated both of them to the great Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, who had inspired them. The Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 107, was written in 1959; No. 2, Op. 126, dates from 1966. The opening movement, Allegretto, of the First Concerto’s four movements is a sort of sardonic march in whose opening bars Shostakovich directly quoted his personal musical monogram, DSCH (D, E-flat, C and B). This apprently relaxed, satirical movement in E-flat Major is followed by a substantial Moderato in the contrasting key of A minor; it is laced with melancholy and unease – a long dialogue between soloist and orchestra treated with great refinement of timbre and colour. The third movement is a long cadenza for cello solo without orchestral accompaniment, and it leads directly into the lightning-like Finale: Allegro con moto, in rondo form and completely permeated with fierce, grotesque humour and frequent references to Russian folk themes. The Concerto No. 1 for Cello and Orchestra was premiered in Leningrad on 4 October 1959 by Mstislav Rostropovich.

1. Allegretto
2. Moderato — Cadenza —
3. Allegro con moto

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Performance