Antonio Meneses - Schumann, Saint-Saëns & Tchaikovsky: Works for Cello & Orchestra (2017) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Antonio Meneses celebrates the 35th anniversary of winning First Prize and the Gold Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, as well as his 60th birthday in August 2017, with his first recordings of three cornerstones of the cello concertante repertoire: Schumann's Cello Concerto in A minor, Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No. 1, and Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme.

Meneses adds to his distinguished discography with three works with orchestra he has not previously recorded: Schumann's Cello Concerto in A minor, Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No. 1, and Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme. Early, seminal recordings with Herbert von Karajan led to further, phenomenal success and recognition of Antonio's beguiling combination of virtuoso élan and thoughtful introspection. His tenth recording for AVIE, these first concertante recordings form a vital part of his series for the label that includes several cornerstones of the cello repertoire, including Bach's Six Cello Suites, the complete cello music by Beethoven (with pianist Menahem Pressler), the two Haydn concertos, and the Grammy-nominated pairing of concertos by Hans Gál and Edward Elgar for which he was joined by Claudio Cruz and the Royal Northern Sinfonia, as he is on this new release.

"His many facets as a musician have been emblazoned across his commanding recording of the Bach Suites and the poetic phrasing in his Haydn…he manages to maintain a thoughtful elegance and unfussy control that brings out the innate beauty of the music at the same time as displaying the multifarious elements of his own artistry." - Gramophone

"Antonio Meneses is truly the bel canto hero of the cello world: no matter how virtuosic or gnarly the music, he sings it with a sonorous beauty of tone and uncompromised resonance only achieved by a chosen few." - BBC Music Magazine

TRACKLIST

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

1 Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129: I. Nicht zu schnell 11:13
2 Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129: II. Langsam 03:54
3 Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129: III. Sehr lebhaft 07:50

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

4 Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33: I. Allegro non troppo 05:36
5 Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33: II. Allegretto con moto 04:50
6 Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33: III. Molto allegro 08:53

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

7 Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33: Thema. Moderato assai quasi Andante–Moderato semplice 02:29
8 Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33: Var. I. Tempo della thema 00:52
9 Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33: Var. II. Tempo della thema 01:14
10 Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33: Var. III. Andante sostenuto 03:34
11 Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33: Var. IV. Andante grazioso – Un poco animato 01:58
12 Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33: Var. V. Allegro moderato – Cadenza 03:22
13 Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33: Var. VI. Andante 02:21
14 Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33: Variation VII e Coda. Allegro vivo 02:20

PERSONNEL
Antonio Meneses (cello)
Royal Northern Sinfonia
Claudio Cruz (conductor)