Only Cello
David Pereira, Australia's leading cellist, plays three masterworks of the solo cello literature, including Peter Sculthorpe's Threnody, written to commemorate the Australian conductor Stuart Challender.
The programme pairs that memorial piece with Bach's Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011, and Kodály's Sonata for solo cello, Op. 8.
Bach and Kodály were recorded in December 1991 at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music Concert Hall. Threnody was recorded in July 1992 at Llewellyn Hall, in the presence of the composer.
Reviews
Kodály's Unaccompanied Sonata provides one of the great tests for the technique of cellists, and Pereira is not found wanting ... the virtuoso elements are all there to enjoy.
(Pereira) produces a huge modern sound which ... is perfectly appropriate in his breathtaking account of the Kodály Sonata ... which really is exceptionally well played and faithfully recorded ...
Bach's fifth suite presents Pereira's credentials in one of the works that forms the basis of the solo cello repertory; and these credentials prove to be boldly, forthrightly stated, with nothing half-hearted in the dynamic size of the performance or the assurance and skill of the phrasing ... Kodály's Sonata is the climax of the recording.
Very distinguished is Pereira's passionate exposition of the Kodály Sonata; its rhapsodic muscularity and richness suits the cellist very well.
Artist
David Pereira
David Pereira is an Australian classical cellist, teacher and composer, born in Macksville, New South Wales, in 1953. He has premiered many concertos and solo works written for him by Australian composers, and served as principal cellist of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Tracks
- Threnody Peter Sculthorpe 7:42
- Prélude 7:03
- Allemande 6:55
- Courante 2:13
- Sarabande 4:27
- Gavottes I and II 5:44
- Gigue 2:16
- i. Allegro maestoso ma appassionato 9:01
- ii. Adagio (con grand'espressione) – Con moto 13:23
- iii. Allegro molto vivace 12:48
Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 Johann Sebastian Bach
Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8 Zoltán Kodály
Performers
- David Pereira · cello
Composers
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was a German composer and organist of the late Baroque. His sacred and secular music for choir, orchestra, organ and solo instruments remains among the foundations of the Western concert and church repertory.
Zoltán Kodály
Kodály's music carries folk melody and eastern European colour into masses, solo cello works of fierce technical demand, and piano pieces that range from Debussian meditation to the storm of the Marosszék Dances.
Peter Sculthorpe
Peter Sculthorpe (1929–2014) was a Tasmanian-born composer whose orchestral and chamber music drew the Australian landscape, neighbouring Asian traditions and Indigenous materials into a clear, personal language. He wrote extensively for strings, piano and voice.
Contributors
Typography and design
Belinda Webster
Belinda Webster is the founder of Tall Poppies Records and a leading Australian producer and recording engineer whose work has documented classical, contemporary and jazz performance across decades of catalogue releases.
Cover painting
David Middlebrook
Liner Notes
Graeme Skinner
Graeme Skinner writes the annotations that turn Tall Poppies recordings into fully armed listening: texts, contexts and sharp musical argument for everything from Mozart’s rude canons to Sculthorpe’s complete string quartets.
Where to listen
Only Cello is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Only Cello is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- TP017
- Total playing time
- 71 minutes 32 seconds
- Producer
- Belinda Webster
- Recording Engineer
- Belinda Webster
- Venue
- Llewellyn Hall (track 1)
Newcastle Conservatorium of Music Concert Hall (tracks 2–10) - Credit
- Belinda Webster
David Middlebrook
Graeme Skinner - Release date
- 22 Aug 1992
- Label
- Tall Poppies
- Musical work
copyright - © 1992 Tall Poppies Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 1992 Tall Poppies Records
- Category
- Great Classics
- Genres
- Baroque, Romantic & Impressionist
- Barcode
- EAN 9399000001720
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