Stereo Review June 1984
Julian Lloyd Webber plays the Rodrigo Cello Concerto
RODRIGO: Cello Concerto. LALO: Cello Concerto in D Minor.
Julian Lloyd Webber (cello); London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jesus Lopez-Cobos cond.
RCA ARL1-4665 $10.98
Performance: Excellent
Recording: Excellent
Joaquin Rodrigo’s Cello Concerto was premiered by Julian Lloyd Webber, for whom it was written, in 1982, but it is certainly hard to think of it as a work of the late twentieth century. Except for the orchestration, which is very distinctive and imaginative, the concerto is a light, highly flavored, Spanish-style work of a most traditional character. This is not to deny its charm a quality certainly in short supply these days. The Lalo was written well over a century earlier. Unlike the composer’s Symphonic espagnole for violin and orchestra, it has only a trace or two of Spanish flavor. The first movement is conventional Romantic bombast, but the middle movement, an intermezzo, is quite elegant, and the lively finale is engaging.
Julian Lloyd Webber is an excellent cellist and makes a fine impression in this music. It was his idea to go to Spain to seek out Rodrigo and convince him to write a concerto, and he has recorded it in fine style.
E.S.
