Cello Concerto "Highland Concerto" - Antón García Abríl

Madrid Symphony Orchestra conducted by Luis Antonio García Navarro. Asier Polo as the cellist.
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Anton García Abríl's Cello Concerto (Concierto de las Tierras Altas) was composed between 1999-2000, being dedicated to the great Basque cellist Asier Polo, who premiered it with the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra conducted by Juanjo Mena on September 9 of 2000, at the Palacio de la Audiencia in Soria, in one of the stellar days of the VIII Sorian Musical Autumn. Its title refers to the lands of Soria (alluded to by poet Antonio Machado in his verses) borders with the Aragonese, who preside over Moncayo.
“You go with me, fields of Soria,
quiet afternoons, violet mountains,
river malls, green dream
of the gray soil and the brown earth,
sour melancholy
of the decrepit city. You have touched my soul”
The piece is written in a single continuous movement. It begins with an atmospheric introduction, in which the cellist introduces an expressive, almost melancholic theme. It is then virtuously unfolded by the soloist. This theme is the source of several subsidiary motives and ideas that will be appearing through the work. The material is then developed a series of dialogues between orchestra and soloist. A lyrical passage is followed by an extensive virtuosic cadenza of the soloist. Tension begins to accumulate before quickly dissolving in a placid section with the cellist in tandem with the orchestra. Harmonies become rarefied in a new series of dialogues leading us to a short but rhythmic allegro. A new widely lyrical section is dominated by the soloist, reaching a great climax on a tutti. The main theme then reappears, followed by a lyrical reelaboration on the material. A lively and energetic final section takes us to an exhilarating coda.
Picture: "Sunset at the Grand Market of Ávila" (1919) by the Italian-Spanish painter Guido Caprotti.
Musical analysis written by myself.
Unfortunately, the score is not freely available.

[@steveegallo3384]

Great rip-roaring excitement and evocation......BRAVO from Mexico!

[@fransmeersman2334]

Outstanding performance of this beautiful enchanting concerto. Thank you !

[@aapereira5374]

Truly beautiful opening and first "idea". Than you for this. From Singapore.

[@ericdevaughn5941]

This is a beautiful, deep Concerto. What a mood. Great orchestration and depth in the harmonic structure. Not an immediate showpiece, this really has more of a symphony feel to it. Mr. Garcia is a great composer. The cadenza is remarkable in its virtuosity but not flash or pretense. I need to listen repeatedly to digest every note of the Cello Concerto !