PAUL BEN-HAIM (1897-1984): Cello Concerto, ERNEST BLOCH (1880-1959): Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Vidui and Nigun from Baal-Shem Suite, ERIC WOLFGANG KORNGOLD (1897-1957): Cello Concerto in D, Tanzlied des Pierrot from Die tote Stadt.

Description: Ben-Haim’s 1962 concerto employs virtuosic agility and the expressive flexibility of the solo instrument and exemplarily demonstrates how the composer was able to fit the stylistic elements characteristic of the Eastern Mediterranean into the structures provided by European forms. Bloch originally wrote his Symphony for Cello and Orchestra for trombone and orchestra. The enormous size of the orchestra contributes to the exotic panorama with tone colors reminiscent of Schelomo and the other six works of the »Jewish cycle« completed by him forty years earlier. Korngold’s concerto was originally composed for the film “Deception”, but some months after it had premiered in the cinemas, he reworked it, its concert hall version consisting of one short movement and among other things a development section featuring fully refined counterpoint and heavy percussive effects. Raphael Wallfisch (cello), BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Łukasz Borowicz.