Cello Concerto Grosso
for Violoncello and Orchestra
Commissioned by Stiftung Berliner Philharmoniker, Tonhalle Zürich, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester,
Toronto Symph. Orch., Seoul Phil. Orch.
Description
First performance: 16 June, 2011, Berlin, Philharmonie
Berliner Philharmoniker
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Miklós Perényi, violoncello
The work is a dialogue in multiple levels: The solo cellist performs with the orchestral cello section, and soloist and cello section both enter into dialogue with the whole orchestra. The concerto retains the classical form of three-movements which could be characterised as ‘energetic, dance-like’, ‘meditative’ and ‘fresh and sparkling’. The music also cites instrumental techniques of Transylvanian folk music such as the ‘Bartók pizzicato’ with its cracking percussive sound.
/Peter Eötvös/
Synopsis
The meaning of a Concerto Grosso refers to not only one but a whole group of soloists who are competing with the orchestra. The double title ‘Cello Concerto Grosso’ refers to the orchestral set as besides the 8 cellist ( concertino ) I integrated a soloist as a ‘fore dancer’ .
My concerto is a series of short dance-acts, it well may be that the “last dance” is coming from a traditional Transylvanian culture which is doomed to a slow disappearance….
Luckily about a decade ago Béla Bartók and László Lajtha were collecting and noting down the music of these dances, which explain us how they were playing these instrumental dances traditionally.
Since my oratorium ‘Atlantis’ I was using these special Transylvanian rhythm in some of my compositions, this characteristic melody form.
A quiet sadness is always present as this may be the last time that we’re dancing together.
For these special play-techniques not only the Bartók Pizzicato (clashing pluck sounds) belongs to, but also the dance-like breezy Glissandos, which refers to that these dance music were often played on string instruments.
In this Concerto 3 dance-situations are rotating: men’s throbbing with their legs slowly, women’s slow floating dance, and their joint dance which is torn apart from time to time as many of them don’t know the moves anymore….
/Peter Eötvös/
Performances
Eötvös: Gliding of the eagle in the skies, Cello concerto grosso, Alle vittime senza nome
Cond.: Peter Eötvös
Gothenburg Orchestra
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Eötvös: Gliding of the eagle in the skies
Eötvös: Cello concerto grosso
Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome
Bartók: Miraculous Mandarin
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: Gliding of the eagle in the skies, Cello concerto grosso, Alle vittime senza nome
Cond.: Peter Eötvös
Gothenburg Orchestra
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Eötvös: Gliding of the eagle in the skies
Eötvös: Cello concerto grosso
Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome
Bartók: Miraculous Mandarin
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso, Speaking drums, DoReMi
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso (Jean-Guihen Queyras, vcl)
Eötvös: Speaking drums (Martin Grubinger, percussion)
Eötvös: DoReMi (Goto Midori, vl) - French premiere
Boulez: Notations
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Auditorium de Radio-France
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso (Jean-Guihen Queyras, vcl)
Eötvös: Speaking drums (Martin Grubinger, percussion)
Eötvös: DoReMi (Goto Midori, vl) - French premiere
Boulez: Notations
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Auditorium de Radio-France
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
International Bartók Festival
Savaria Symph. Orchestra
Miklós Perényi, vcl, cond. Gregory Vajda
Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso (Eric-Maria Couturier, vcl)
Kurtág: Messages
Kodály: Háry suite
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints, Cello Concerto Grosso
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso (vcl. Eric-Maria Couturier)
Kurtág: Messages
Kodály: Háry suite
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien,
violoncello: Sung-Won Yang
conductor: Johannes Kalitzke
Musikverein, Vienna
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Bratislava Orchestra
Vcl: Miklós Perényi
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
Seoul Music Festival
Ligeti: Concert Romanesc
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso (Sungwon Yang, violoncello)
Kurtag: New messages for orchestra
Bartók: Piano concerto No 2 (Sunwook Kim, piano)
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Seoul Arts Center
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Seoul Music Festival
Ligeti: Concert Romanesc
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso (Sungwon Yang, violoncello)
Kurtag: New messages for orchestra
Bartók: Piano concerto No 2 (Sunwook Kim, piano)
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
Seoul Arts Center
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Bergen Festival
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Miklós Perényi, violoncello
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Bergen Festival
Miklós Perényi, violoncello
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Bergen Festival
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Miklós Perényi, violoncello
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Bergen Festival
Miklós Perényi, violoncello
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
New Creations Festival
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Joseph Johnson, violoncello
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints, Cello Concerto Grosso
New Creations Festival
Joseph Johnson, violoncello
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Tonhalle Zürich
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz
Eötvös: Violoncello concerto grosso
Bartók: Concerto for orchestra
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz
Eötvös: Violoncello concerto grosso
Bartók: Concerto for orchestra
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Tonhalle Zürich
Tonhalle Zürich
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz
Eötvös: Violoncello concerto grosso
Bartók: Concerto for orchestra
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz
Eötvös: Violoncello concerto grosso
Bartók: Concerto for orchestra
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Tonhalle Zürich
Tonhalle Zürich
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz
Eötvös: Violoncello concerto grosso
Bartók: Concerto for orchestra
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz
Eötvös: Violoncello concerto grosso
Bartók: Concerto for orchestra
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Tonhalle Zürich
Tonhalle Zürich
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz
Eötvös: Violoncello concerto grosso
Bartók: Concerto for orchestra
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz
Eötvös: Violoncello concerto grosso
Bartók: Concerto for orchestra
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Tonhalle Zürich
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
Miklós Perényi, vcl
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
new piece for violoncello and orchestra
Miklós Perényi, vcl
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
first performance
Miklós Perényi, vcl
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Eötvös: Cello Concerto Grosso
new piece for violoncello and orchestra
first performance
Miklós Perényi, vcl
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Details
Publisher information
Schott Music Mainz
https://en.schott-music.com/shop/cello-concerto-grosso-no276079.html
Orchestration
3 Flutes (2nd also Alto flute, 3rd also Piccolo) ·
3 Oboes (3rd also Cor anglais) ·
3 Clarinets (1st in Bb and A, 2nd in Es, 3rd in A and Bass clarinet) ·
3 Bassoons (3rd also Double bassoon) –
2 Horns in F ·
2 Trumpets in C ·
2 Trombones (1st Tenor trombone, 2nd Bass trombone) ·
1 Double bass trombone ·
4 Percussion players (3rd player: timpani and percussion can be performed by a single player)
1 Harp ·
1 Celesta
Strings: 8 · 8 · 8 · 8 [Concertino] · 6 [4.-6. five-string basses]
Orchestral seating: the seating of the orchestra is as customary. It is important that the 8 Violoncellos are placed between the Violins II and the Violas. The Violas should be in front of the Double basses.
Further information
Laut der ursprünglichen Bedeutung des Concerto grosso wetteifert nicht nur ein Solist, sondern eine ganze Gruppe von Solisten mit dem Orchester. Der Doppeltitel, Cello Concerto Grosso weist darauf hin, dass ich neben den acht Cellisten des Orchesters – als Concertino – auch einen Violoncello-Solisten, wie einen “Vortänzer”, mit einbezogen habe. Mein Concerto ist eine Aneinanderreihung kurzer Tanzszenen, vielleicht sogar der “letzte Tanz” der traditionellen transsylvanischen Kultur, die zum allmählichen Verschwinden verurteilt ist.
Sound
Recordings
Video

First Movement – Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, 2016