Britten cello suite shines in rare recital

Pieter Wispelwey with Piers Lane ★★★★★

Melbourne Recital Centre, Septem­ber 15

Reviewed by Tony Way

Pure genius. These two words arguably encapsulate the astonishing imagination behind the three solo suites that Benjamin Britten composed for the Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich between 1964 and 1971. Taking Bach’s fabled cello suites as a model, these tours de force remain revolutionary in pushing the instrument’s boundaries of timbre and texture.

Over three evenings, Dutch cellist Pieter Wispelwey, long an ardent and persuasive exponent of these works, is performing programs centred on each suite.

Prokofiev and Shostakovich were appropriate stablemates in the series opener, not least because Prokofiev wrote his Cello Sonata in C, Op. 119 for Rostropovich, but also that the cellist was part of the deep friendship and admiration shared between himself, Shostakovich and Britten.

Providing the first taste of Wispelwey’s chameleonic way with his 1760 Guadagnini cello, the Prokofiev ran the gamut of emotions, starting with its dark, sombre opening before flowering into rich lyricism, moments of child­like wonder and folkloric exuberance.

Britten’s Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72 was full of earbending marvels, including a witty, cleverly constructed fugue and an evocative march in which the masterly bouncing of the bow summoned up martial images. A stunning moto per­petuo led to the return of the imposing, unifying Canto. Few others would be capable of bringing this music alive so vibrantly and comprehensibly.

Wispelwey ensured Shostakovich’s Cello Sonata in D minor, Op. 40 brimmed over with fascinating detail; bringing richly burnished tone to the eerie opening melody and plaintive Largo, unerring technique to the manic second movement and cheeky playfulness to the finale. Here and in the Prokofiev, pianist Piers Lane’s partnership was entirely empathetic. Setting aside the substandard printed program that doesn’t list the movements of the works performed, don’t miss the opportunity to hear astounding music performed by musicians of genius.

Program:
César Franck – Violin Sonata in A major
Katerina Chatzinikolau, violin • Piers Lane, piano

Box Office Link

Program:
Felix Mendelssohn – Variations concertantes in D major, Op. 17
Zuill Bailey, cello • Piers Lane, piano

Felix Mendelssohn – Cello Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 58
Zuill Bailey, cello • Piers Lane, piano

Antonín Dvořák – Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, Op. 81
Balourdet String Quartet • Piers Lane, piano

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Program:
Frédéric Chopin – Complete 24 Preludes, Op. 28

Piers Lane, piano

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Piers Lane with Zuill Bailey

Dreams of Chopin
Pieces from Chopin’s Ballet, Les Sylphides
Polonaise in A, Op. 40, No. 1
Nocturne in F, Op. 15, No. 1
Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 50, No. 2
Nocturne in A-flat, Op. 32, No. 2
Waltz in G-flat, Op. 70, No. 1
Mazurka in D, Op. 33, No. 2
Mazurka in C, Op. 67, No. 3
Tarantelle, Op. 43
Prelude in A, Op. 28, No. 7
Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2
Valse Brillante in E-flat, Op. 18
INTERVAL
Chopin; Sonata for cello and piano in G minor Op. 65 with Zuill Bailey

Further info and Box Office link

Piers Lane with Zuill Bailey

Piers plays
Schubert: Impromptu in Gb D899 No.3
Schubert: Sonata in D major D850
INTERVAL
Mendelssohn: Variations Concertantes
Mendelssohn : Sonata in D
the second half with Zuill Bailey

Further info and Box Office link

Thursday, 19th February at 19:30