Dvořák composed his Cello Concerto in B minor during his final year in America, between November 1894 and February 1895, while serving as Director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York.
Composer Biography
Elgar was deeply troubled by the Great War and its aftermath, and his letters from that time reveal anxiety about the future of music and the purpose of his own compositions.
Historical Context
Elgar's Cello Concerto was profoundly influenced by the grim shadow of the First World War, with its apocalyptic loss of life and the sweeping away of the old order.
Instruments
Alban Gerhardt, the cellist on this recording, plays a Matteo Goffriller cello that dates from 1710.
Composition History
Johannes Brahms reportedly praised Dvořák's Cello Concerto, stating he would have written one long ago if he had known such a work was possible.
Interpretation
The performer's approach often results in tempi and proportions that differ from customary performances, aiming for a sound closer to the composers' intentions.
Interpretation
The performer, Alban Gerhardt, questions traditional interpretations of these concertos, opting to return to the composers' original scores for guidance.
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