Album

Like others before them, Benjamin Britten's Three Suites for Solo Cello hearken back to the original masterworks of the genre, Bach's Six Suites for Solo Cello. While direct references are less overt than those found in other solo cello suites, Britten's reverence for the master is certainly there to be found. The three suites, each written for cellist Mstislav Rostropovich over the course of some seven years, have distinctly contrasting characters. The first of the three suites is by far the most abstract, filled with extensively double-stopped cantos. While the second suite leans slightly toward a more Classical aesthetic, the third and final suite is largely based on obscured (and sometimes directly stated) Russian folk melodies. Successful performances of these pieces require the utmost in technical acumen, musical sensitivity, and broad palate of tones and timbres. Surprisingly few cellists have recorded these three suites, perhaps because of the demands placed on the performer or perhaps because of their abstract nature. Cellist Denise Djokic, in only her second album release, sets out to conquer these works on this ATMA album. Listeners may be surprised at the exceptional prowess of this young artist. Her technique is nearly flawless, even in the most challenging of passages. Of high significance for these works is the issue of intonation, which Djokic also meets with ease. Britten's continuous use of wide, open intervals is met with clarity and sparkling purity. Her tone is varied, as is her musical approach to the different characters presented in the contrasting suites. Easily able to stand alongside the great recordings of Rostropovich and Wispelwey, this album is very likely to please.

© Mike D. Brownell, Rovi

CD 1
Benjamin Britten Composer Solo Cello Suite No.1, Op.72 Work 28:05 Denise Djokic Cello
1	1.Canto primo	2:37			$0.99
2	2.Fuga: Andante moderato	4:20			$0.99
3	3.Lamento: Lento rubato	3:22			$0.99
4	4.Canto secondo: Sostenuto	1:33			$0.99
5	5.Serenata: Allegretto (pizzicato)	2:24			$0.99
6	6.Marcia: Alla marcia moderato	3:41			$0.99
7	7.Canto terzo: Sostenuto	2:50			$0.99
8	8.Bordone: Moderato quasi recitativo	3:46			$0.99
9	9.Moto perpetuo e Canto quarto: Presto	3:32			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Solo Cello Suite No.2, Op.80 Work 25:23 Denise Djokic Cello
10	1.Declamato: Largo	4:21			$0.99
11	2.Fuga: Andante	4:28			$0.99
12	3.Scherzo: Allegro molto	2:11			$0.99
13	4.Andante lento	6:05			$0.99
14	5.Ciaccona: Allegro	8:18			$1.49
Benjamin Britten Composer Solo Cello Suite No.3, Op.87 Work 26:01 Denise Djokic Cello
15	1.Introduzione: Lento	2:48			$0.99
16	2.Marcia: Allegro	1:53			$0.99
17	3.Canto: Con moto	1:30			$0.99
18	4.Barcarolla: Lento	1:48			$0.99
19	5.Dialogo: Allegretto	2:07			$0.99
20	6.Fuga: Andante espressivo	3:11			$0.99
21	7.Recitativo: Fantastico	1:26			$0.99
22	8.Moto perpetuo: Presto	0:57			$0.99
23	9.Passacaglia: Lento solenne	10:21			$1.99