Album

On this CD, Swiss cellist Christian Poltéra tackles the complete cello works by two of the leading independent-minded European modernists of the mid- to late-twentieth century, Henri Dutilleux and Witold Lutoslawski. Each of the works was written at the instigation of Mstislav Rostropovich, a concerto from each composer, both of which he premiered in 1970, and a solo cello tribute from each, written in 1975 in honor of the Swiss conductor and new music advocate, Paul Sacher. Dutilleux took the title of his concerto, Toute un monde lointain …(A Whole Distant World…), as well the names of the movements, from the poetry of Baudelaire, the mystery and sensuality of whose writing is reflected in the music. While it has the harmonic sophistication characteristic of post-war European music, Dutilleux's five-movement concerto falls clearly in the lineage of Debussy in its evocative delicacy, essentially lyrical character, and gossamer but colorful orchestration. Lutoslawski's concerto, while idiomatically not too far from Dutilleux's, is more aggressive and emphatic, with a more traditionally competitive relationship between the soloist and the orchestra. These concertos are canonical cello works of the late twentieth century, but the solo pieces are also attractive and idiomatically written, and deserve to be better known. Poltéra delivers committed, virtuosic performances, but he doesn't quite have the radiant tone to make the Dutilleux shimmer and glisten as it can. The ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, led by Jac van Steen, is likewise more persuasive in the more formally and timbrally straightforward Lutoslawski concerto. The sound of Bis' SACD is clean, detailed, and vivid, but particularly in the Dutilleux, it could benefit from more warmth.

© Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

CD 1
Henri Dutilleux Composer Tout un monde lointain, concerto for cello and orchestra Work Recorded 2008 30:37 Jac van Steen Conductor, Austrian Radio Orchestra, Vienna Orchestra, Christian Poltéra Cello, Maighread McCrann Orchestra Leader
1	1.Enigme: Très libre et flexible	6:40			$0.99
2	2.Regard: Extrêmement calme	7:45			$1.49
3	3.Houles: Large et ample	4:36			$0.99
4	4.Miroirs: Lent et extatique	6:58			$0.99
5	5.Hymne: Allegro	4:38			$0.99
Henri Dutilleux Composer Strophes sur le nom de Sacher, for cello solo Work Recorded 2009 9:15 Christian Poltéra Cello
6	1.Un poco indeciso	3:38			$0.99
7	2.Andante sostenuto	2:56			$0.99
8	3.Vivace	2:41			$0.99
Witold Lutoslawski Composer Cello Concerto Work Recorded 2008 24:54 Jac van Steen Conductor, Austrian Radio Orchestra, Vienna Orchestra, Christian Poltéra Cello, Maighread McCrann Orchestra Leader
9	1.Introduction	5:28			$0.99
10	2.Four episodes	6:41			$0.99
11	3.Cantilena	5:59			$0.99
12	4.Finale	6:46			$0.99
Witold Lutoslawski Composer Sacher Variation, for cello Work Recorded 2009 Christian Poltéra Cello
13	Sacher Variation, for cello	3:33			$0.99