Prokofiev/Shchedrin
This is an attractive collection of mostly less familiar works from Prokofiev and Shchedrin. The Cinq Mélodies Op. 35 was originally written by Prokofiev as a set of five 'songs without words' with piano, and later rearranged for violin and piano. The composer orchestrated no. 2 with voice, but, in the words of Raphael Wallfisch: "The orchestral version had remained unheard until now because the manuscript was languishing in various archives. I had often played the violin version on the cello and so, on discovering Prokofiev's manuscript, I invited Rodion Shchedrin to complete the set using the original as a model. Happily now, thanks to the generous support of the commission from Southbank Sinfonia, there is now a NEW work by Prokofiev for cello, violin or voice and orchestra!"
The result is a very pleasant set of pieces, with a few of those sinewy harmonic and melodic progressions and lines for which we love this composer, but very approachable, and at times beautifully atmospheric and almost impressionistic. The light scoring makes for transparent textures, with no need for the solo cello to fight with the orchestra. I particularly like the mysterious sense of exploration in No.3, and the pizzicato humour in the poco scherzando of No.4. These are highly effective pieces of which I have no doubt we will be hearing more in the future.
This is a very well recorded and performed programme, with the acoustic of the large hall at Wyastone Leys providing a good setting for the chamber orchestra and soloist(s). The Cinq Mélodies are the star discovery for me from this release. With some of the less well-trodden paths in Prokofiev, and a substantial work from Shchedrin which will be unfamiliar to just about everyone, this is a disc worth exploring by cello aficionados and repertoire explorers alike.
Dominy Clements - MusicWeb International