Robert Schumann; Edward Elgar; Nikolai Kapustin: Alexander Zagorinsky, Cello

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Melodiya presents a new disc of the cellist, Honoured Artis of Russia Alexander Zagorinsky. This time the musician whose repertoire comprises music of four centuries performs cello concertos of Robert Schumann and Nikolai Kapustin. Schumann’s concerto, one of the most popular cello pieces, was written in 1850. It was one of the “sunset” works of the German genius of romantic music, whose life was cut short by mental illness so soon. Nikolai Kapustin has a special place in the world of contemporary academic music. He has managed to achieve a harmonious synthesis of classical traditions and jazz. The art of jazz is not an expressive means but the essence of the musical language spoken by the composer. At the same time, his works are written in the conventional classical and baroque forms. Kapustin’s Cello Concerto No. 2 (2002) was written for an orchestra’s chamber string line-up. Here, the timbre of the strings replaces both the percussions and brass winds of a jazz band, and the voice of the solo cello combines the improvisational aspect of the jazz instruments with a pronounced concerto virtuosic element. The album was recorded with the Chamber Orchestra of the Vologda Philharmonic Society conducted by Alexander Loskutov. This remarkable orchestra was founded in 1990 by virtue of its leader’s energy and talent. Since then the orchestra have won recognition from the audiences far beyond its hometown. The musicians of the orchestra also perform the String Serenade by Edward Elgar, the founder of the English national composing school.