Davidoff - Cello Concertos 1 & 2

Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Mikkelsen, Terje, Yang, Wen-Sinn

CPO 777263

The Latvian-Russian composer Carl Davidoff, one of the master cellists of his times, enjoyed high esteem as a concert soloist and chamber musician and composed four concertos for his own instrument in addition to a number of single pieces. After studies in St. Petersburg and under Friedrich Grützmacher and Moritz Hauptmann at the Leipzig Conservatory, Davidoff was the solo cellist at the Gewandhaus from 1860 to 1862 and at the Imperial Theaters in St. Petersburg from 1862 to 1882, while also holding the posts of professor and later director at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. His concertos fascinate listening audiences with their dizzying virtuosity and technical finesse and are interpreted with mastery on this recording from 1997 (earlier released on the La Vergne Classics label) by the Bern-born cellist Wen-Sinn Yang, who traces his roots to Taiwan. Ever since he was awarded the first prize at the Geneva International Competition in 1991, Wen-Sinn Yang has performed in prestigious concert halls in Europe and Asia with renowned conductors such as Lorin Maazel and Sir Colin Davis — and we hope to be able to produce Davidoff's two other cello concertos with him soon!

CD x 1

CPO

19.02.07

761203726325