Mieczysław Weinberg considered himself a disciple of Dmitry Shostakovich, even though he never had formal lessons with him, stating Shostakovich's music captivated him.
Performer Biography
Marina Tarasova, the cellist on this recording, is a renowned Russian cellist and winner of international competitions, who was given the score of Weinberg's 24 Preludes by the composer himself in 1979.
Historical Context
The Concertino was written shortly after the murder of Solomon Mikhoels, Weinberg's father-in-law and a prominent theatrical figure, by order of Stalin, which deeply affected the composer.
Composer Biography
Mieczysław Weinberg, born in Warsaw in 1919, was a Jewish boy whose father was a musician and his first teacher; he started playing piano at his father's theater at age ten or eleven.
Composition History
Mieczysław Weinberg's Concertino for Violoncello and String Orchestra, Op.43, was written in August 1948, but was not played during his lifetime and was only found in 2016.
Performer Biography
Alexander Rudin, the conductor, is also a cellist known for his natural playing style and his ability to synthesize traditional and historically informed performance practices.
Historical Context
Mieczysław Weinberg fled from Poland to the Soviet Union in 1939 due to the outbreak of World War II, escaping the German invasion.
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