Salonen Ravel

Description

Nicolas Altstaedt presents here his version of the monumental Cello Concerto by Esa-Pekka Salonen, originally composed for Yo-Yo Ma, and for which the Franco-German cellist ensured the Finnish premiere under the direction of the composer. With the collaboration of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Dima Slobodeniouk, he reveals all its expressiveness: “The first movement opens with what, in my sketchbook, was titled Chaos to line,” says Esa-Pekka Salonen. Chaos, metaphorical comet, rhythmic mantra with congas and bongos, wild dance… Salonen continues about the third movement: “I imagined the orchestra as a kind of gigantic lung, expanding and contracting slowly at first, then accelerating to a point of hyperventilation that returns to the dancing material.” Additionally, the famous "Duo Ravel" (its original title at the time of creation) that Nicolas Altstaedt and Pekka Kuusisto have been playing and refining since 2010 was finally time to record.