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Walton, Hindemith: Cello Concertos / Poltera, Shipway, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra
BIS

Walton, Hindemith: Cello Concertos / Poltera, Shipway, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra

$21.99

Details

Composer
WALTON HINDEMTIH
Artist
Poltera, Shipway
Format
SACD
Label
BIS
Released
Nov 11, 2014
Catalog #
BIS-2077
UPC
7318599920771

About


This recording constitutes nothing less than a landmark in both the Hindemith and Walton discographies. The Walton Concerto is the better known of the two, but it’s an elusive work that often fails to make a strong impression. It has never received a more shapely, focused, and intelligent performance than it does here. Poltéra’s swift tempos and exceptional virtuosity give the music such freshness, while the long finale holds together better than in any other performance. If you’ve ever had doubts about this work, here’s an interpretation that will set them to rest.

As for the Hindemith, this is an absolutely wonderful piece, with a slow movement that contains perhaps Hindemith’s most memorable single tune. He used it a lot. Its second phrase opens the song cycle Das Marienleben, and it also appears in the Symphony in E flat. For some reason the work has never quite caught on, despite being very approachable and extravagantly scored. Janos Starker’s RCA recording was the best option before this, but that comes coupled (oddly) with the Schumann concerto, whereas the Walton makes a far more apt disc mate.

Poltéra’s performance simply puts everyone else in the shade. His tone has just the right combination of purity and sweetness, but it never turns sentimental. The virtuosic outer movements play as if self-propelled–and in this respect let us pause for a moment to give Frank Shipway and the São Paulo Symphony credit for their exciting but always sensitive accompaniments. The solo cello works, too, make apt and unusual couplings, and they are played with the same point and panache as the concertos. Stunning SACD engineering represents the icing on the cake. This is just glorious.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 12 tracks

  1. 1 I. Moderato 08:00
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Moderato
    Duration
    08:00
    Composer
    William Walton
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Frank Shipway
  2. 2 II. Allegro appassionato 06:10
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Allegro appassionato
    Duration
    06:10
    Composer
    William Walton
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Frank Shipway
  3. 3 III. Tema ed improvvisazioni 13:35
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Tema ed improvvisazioni
    Duration
    13:35
    Composer
    William Walton
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Frank Shipway
  4. 4 Passacaglia for Cello 06:12
    Track
    4
    Title
    Passacaglia for Cello
    Duration
    06:12
    Composer
    William Walton
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra
  5. 5 I. Mäßig schnell - Breit - Im Hauptzeitmaß 08:01
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Mäßig schnell - Breit - Im Hauptzeitmaß
    Duration
    08:01
    Composer
    Paul Hindemith
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Frank Shipway
  6. 6 II. Ruhig bewegt - Sehr lebhaft - Im früheren langsamen Zeitmaß 07:50
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Ruhig bewegt - Sehr lebhaft - Im früheren langsamen Zeitmaß
    Duration
    07:50
    Composer
    Paul Hindemith
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Frank Shipway
  7. 7 III. Marsch. Lebhaft - Trio - Lebhafter 07:54
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Marsch. Lebhaft - Trio - Lebhafter
    Duration
    07:54
    Composer
    Paul Hindemith
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Frank Shipway
  8. 8 I. Lebhaft, sehr markiert 01:44
    Track
    8
    Title
    I. Lebhaft, sehr markiert
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Paul Hindemith
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra
  9. 9 II. Mäßig schnell, Gemächlich 01:33
    Track
    9
    Title
    II. Mäßig schnell, Gemächlich
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Paul Hindemith
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra
  10. 10 III. Langsam 04:46
    Track
    10
    Title
    III. Langsam
    Duration
    04:46
    Composer
    Paul Hindemith
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra
  11. 11 IV. Lebhafte Viertel 00:36
    Track
    11
    Title
    IV. Lebhafte Viertel
    Duration
    00:36
    Composer
    Paul Hindemith
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra
  12. 12 V. Mäßig schnell 01:51
    Track
    12
    Title
    V. Mäßig schnell
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Paul Hindemith
    Performer
    Christian Poltéra