RODION SHCHEDRIN (b.1932): Parabola Concertante for Cello, Strings and Timpani, SERGEI PROKOFIEV (1891-1953): 5 Mélodies, Op. 35 (transcr. cello and orchestra Shchedrin), Symphony No. 1 "Classical", Op. 25, Concertino for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 132.

Description: Shchedrin's Parabola Concertante is a terse and economical quasi-narrative work, related to, but not programmatically descriptive of, the story 'The Enchanted Wanderer' by Nikolai Leskov. The piece is divided into clearly defined sections suggesting episodes in the protagonist's life, while the cello is the solo voice of the man, narrative or confessing. Prokofiev's late Concertino is heard here in the completion by Vladimir Blok, for smaller forces than the earlier one by Kabalevsky. The work is attractive, instantly recognizable Prokofiev, with allusions to his better-known Sinfonia Concertante. Raphael Wallfisch (cello), Southbank Sinfonia; Simon Over.