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Mon, 18 Mar 2002 10:30:47 -0500 |
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Bob Woods was:
>...wondering if the list can recommend other solo cello works that I should
>consider for my collection.
The Impromptu for Cello solo in Three Movements, Op 90c (1963) was one
of the last compositions by Ernest Toch (1887-1964), one of the century's
great composers. Despite being under 10 minutes long, this rich and varied
piece was immediately appealing yet it continues to delight after many
listens.
The beauty is that it's on a recent CD with two other Toch gems: his very
spare and captivating Concerto for Cello and Chamber Orchestra, Op 35
(1924-25), and the richly melodic Cello Sonata, Op 50 (1929).
I've been wanting some pretext to recommend this (Albany Troy 421) CD for
some time, short of doing a complete review (how does Don find the time?!).
It's Steven Honigberg on cello, with Kathryn Brake on piano, and the
Eclipse Chamber Orchestra under Sylvia Alimena. All do a terrific job
of music that's cliche-free and witty and full of warmth.
Despite being an unforgivably stingy 53 minutes long, I recommend all the
music on this CD to anyone even remotely interested in 20th century music.
Bert Bailey
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