Salonen wrote the Cello Concerto for Yo-Yo Ma, a renowned cellist, finding inspiration in his limitless technique and imagination.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Salonen believes true virtuosity extends beyond mechanical playing to capturing beauty and expression in quiet moments, filling near-stasis with life.
Composition History
Esa-Pekka Salonen, the composer, developed the actual material for his Cello Concerto in the summer of 2015, though some ideas date back three decades.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Salonen views a concerto as an orchestral work where one or more instruments have a more prominent role, not necessarily burdened by tradition or a fixed formal design.
Compositional Technique
The first movement of Salonen's Cello Concerto opens with a concept titled 'Chaos to line' in his sketchbook, representing a simple thought emerging from a complex landscape.
Composition History
Salonen incorporated phrases from his 2010 solo cello work, "knock, breathe, shine," into the second and third movements of the Cello Concerto.
Recording & Production
This recording is a world premiere recording, captured live at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on February 8, 2018.
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