Description
No longer available on CD.
“Rohan de Saram is on inspired form throughout…” (Gramophone Magazine)
1. Hans PFITZNER (1869-1949)
Cello Concerto in G Major, Op. 42
Rohan de Saram cello
Netherlands Radio Orchestra / Bohumil Gregor
Recording date: 10 January 1980
Recording venue: AVRO Studios, Hilversum, Holland
Engineer & producer: NCRV
Remastering engineer: Jonathan Mayer
1st release on CD
2-9. John MAYER (1929-2004)
Prabhanda for cello and piano
Rohan de Saram cello
Druvi de Saram piano
10-15. John MAYER
Ragamalas for cello and tanpura
Rohan de Saram cello
John Mayer tanpura
Recording date: 1983
Recording venue: Conway Hall, London
Engineer & producer: Ben Turner
Remastering engineer: Jonathan Mayer
Liner notes: John Mayer & Richard Whitehouse
Release date: 5 March 2012
Total duration: 59 mins 51 secs
In 1935, the German composer Hans Pfitzner wrote a rousing cello concerto for Rohan de Saram’s teacher, Gaspar Cassadó. With an abundance of irresistible qualities, the work possesses extraordinary richness and delight. There is an almost Chopin-like quality to the solo part and the orchestral accompaniment is reminiscent of Delius. A self-described anti-modernist, Pfitzner’s best known work is the post-Romantic opera Palestrina, loosely based on the life of the great sixteenth-century composer. This recording, featuring de Saram accompanied by the Netherlands Radio Orchestra led by Bohumil Gregor, marks the recording’s first appearance on CD. The concerto is coupled with two Indian influenced chamber works by John Mayer, Prabhanda for cello and piano and Ragamalas for cello and tanpura.
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Press Quotes
“Rohan de Saram is on inspired form throughout, especially during the freer, quasi-improvised sections of the Ragamalas.” (Gramophone Magazine)
“Powerful, fascinating music [Mayer]; impressive-even mighty-performances; and stunning recorded sound!… this disc ventures into two distinct, unusual musical worlds, and comes up a winner in both. You do not have to be musically adventurous to enjoy it.” (Fanfare Magazine)
“The overall performance is extremely well thought out, but passionate…”
[Musicweb-International]