CD Review (The Straits Times, July 2019)

RUSSIAN CELLO CONCERTOS

LI-WEI QIN, Cello

Czech Chamber Philharmonic
Michael Halasz, Conductor

Naxos 8.573860 / ****1/2

This album should have been called Russian Romantic Cello Concertos, as the composers featured were major figures of Russia’s age of Romantic music. Of these, only two works actually qualify to be called concertos: Piotr Tchaikovsky’s popular Variations On A Rococo Theme (1877) and Alexander Glazunov’s rarely-heard Concerto Ballata (1931).

Chinese-Australian cellist Qin Li-Wei, now based in Singapore, has previously recorded the Tchaikovsky. He gives a heartrending account, filled with depth of feeling and intensity, not to mention his warm and glorious tone. This is continued in Tchaikovsky’s brief single-movement Pezzo Capriccioso (1887) and the famous Andante Cantabile from his First String Quartet (1871).

Despite its date of composition, the Glazunov is a total anachronism, sounding like a work composed fifty years earlier. Despite Qin’s ardent advocacy, the work is nowhere as memorable as his popular Violin Concerto. The gifted melodist does however shine in shorter works like the Two Pieces (1887-88) and Chant du menestrel (Minstrel’s Song, 1900). Rimsky-Korsakov light-hearted Serenade (1893) completes the programme.

All’s the pity that Qin does not get accompanied by a better orchestra than the chamber orchestra from the Czech town of Pardubice. It creditably does its job but this delectable music deserves more. So hear Qin’s Tchaikovsky when he performs it with Singapore’s re:Sound at Victoria Concert Hall on Friday. 

Don't Miss:

STANDING ON 
THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

TCHAIKOVSKY Rococo Variations
VIVALDI Sinfonia to La Senna Festaggiante
HAYDN Symphony No.104 "London"
PROKOFIEV Symphony No.1 "Classical"

QIN LI-WEI, Cello with re:Sound
conducted by PAVLO BEZNOSIUK
Victoria Concert Hall
Friday, 5 July 2019 at 8.15 pm

Tickets available at: 
https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/giants0719