Cello Concerto
- Instrumentation
- Cello, Orchestra
- Composed
- 1999
- Duration
- 24'
- Publisher
- Schott
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About this piece
Commissioned by the BBC for the cellist Paul Watkins, who gave the first performance at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall on 12 August 2001 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under David Robertson. Picker reworked it from his Suite for Cello and Piano, written for Lynn Harrell, and two of its movements began as songs: the first, 'Not even the rain', sets E. E. Cummings's 'somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond', and the last, 'Lament', a poem by W. S. Merwin that Picker later used in his opera Thérèse Raquin. Andrew Farach-Colton's programme note describes 'an entirely original' design of two scherzos framed by a pair of wordless songs, and music that is 'open-hearted yet intimate, even secretive'. The Independent called it 'a valuable addition to the cello repertoire'. Watkins recorded it with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra under Thomas Sanderling (Chandos CHAN 10039, 2003). Published by Schott Helicon; orchestral material is on hire.
Technical overview
Four movements of about 24 minutes: two wordless songs (Not even the rain; Lament) framing two scherzo-like movements (Brief journey; Those we loved), in which the cello turns defiantly songful over sharp, accented orchestral writing; long-limbed melody with contrapuntal exchanges; orchestra without trombones or tuba, with harp and piano.