1st Movement
The cello concerto received its first performance in November 1989. In 2017 I revised the 2nd movement and created a version that enabled it to be performed as a stand-alone version. At the end of 2021 I started work on revising the 1st & 3rd movements. In addition to making the orchestrations more transparent, I have re-written some of the solo part figurations and passage work. The recording of the first movement has been created using music software. The second movement is a recording made with the Brno Filharmonie. It has been spliced with the 3rd movement which also uses music technology. I apologise for the sound of the solo cello in the outer two movements!
The premiere of the cello concerto coincided with the Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra's Diamond Jubilee concert. The programme was enormous: The National Anthem, Karelia Suite, Adagio from Spartacus, my concerto for cello & orchestra, Konzertstück for 4 horns, Berloiz's Hungarian March, Crown Imperial, The toy symphony and the 1812 Overture! I was not resposible for this programming marathon.
Back in 1989, the cello concerto was my first large scale work. I gave my self the brief of writing a half hour concerto that was dramatic colourful and different. After the recent revisions, I have got closer to that aim.
2nd & 3rd Movements