Weinberg - Cello Concerto in C minor op. 43 | Andris Poga | Edgar Moreau | WDR Sinfonieorchester

Mieczysław Weinberg's Cello Concerto in C minor, op. 43, performed by cellist Edgar Moreau and the WDR Sinfonieorchester under the baton of Andris Poga. Recorded live at the Kölner Philharmonie on Sept. 23, 2022.
Mieczysław Weinberg - Cello Concerto in C minor op. 43
00:00:00 I. Adagio
00:07:43 II. Moderato
00:13:34 III. Allegro
00:23:54 IV. Allegro
Edgar Moreau, cello
WDR Sinfonieorchester
Andris Poga, conductor
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Introduction
For a long time, the composer Mieczysław Weinberg was virtually unknown. Only in recent years have his works increasingly found their way into the repertoire of soloists, orchestras and opera houses. The premiere of the opera "The Passenger" at the Bregenz Festival in 2010 provided the initial spark. Weinberg, of Jewish origin, was born in Warsaw and studied at the Warsaw Conservatory before fleeing to the Soviet Union in Minsk in 1939 to escape the German invasion of Poland. His parents and sister, however, found death. Later, during the German attack on the Soviet Union, Weinberg was evacuated by the Red Army to Tashkent in Uzbekistan. From there he sent the score of his first symphony to Dmitri Shostakovich, who was so taken with it that he invited him to Moscow, where Weinberg settled permanently.
His style has often been compared to that of Shostakovich - which at the same time cannot be dismissed, but is also misleading. For Weinberg's music always has a consoling undertone, and despite all dramatic intensifications, a spark of hope always shimmers through.
This is also true of his Cello Concerto op. 43, composed in 1948, which was Weinberg's first major concerto. Due to the political situation in the Soviet Union, a premiere was out of the question. For when he was writing the work, Weinberg - like Shostakovich - was publicly criticised for so-called "formalist tendencies". And after the death of dictator Stalin in 1953, it took another four years before the Cello Concerto could be presented to the public in the so-called Thaw. It was finally launched in early 1957 with the fantastic soloist Mstislav Rostropovich and the Moscow Philharmonic under Samuil Samosud, who also premiered Shostakovich's opera "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" and his "Leningrad" Symphony. Despite - or perhaps because of? - the brooding mood of the opening movement, Weinberg's Cello Concerto met with immediate success. Today it is one of his most frequently performed pieces.
(Text: Otto Hagedorn)

[@benjaminniemczyk]

REALLY good. Brilliantly performed, with passion and determination. Such a fine composition. Bravi to all.

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you!

[@robertcohn8858]

I really love this piece and its many klezmer slow-moving dance themes. Just wonderful. Thank you for posting.

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you! We are glad that you like our interpretation 🤗

[@johannabargsten6133]

Großartig diese Komposition und das Spiel der Musiker. Ich bin beeindruckt und berührt. Danke!

[@WDRKlassik]

Dankeschön 🤗

[@brandoncota8132]

What a gorgeous concerto. First time I heard it, years ago, it sounded so earnest, but also so Hollywood. I recently heard Edgar Moreau play Prokofiev Symphonia Concertante in Detroit to great effect. Now I’m a big fan. Great to watch closeup. He plays with heart and passion with a measured approach and meticulous execution. Excellent!

[@galinakrivulin6767]

Missed when it premiered but cannot miss this beautiful concert.
Edgar Moreau mentioned the concerto in one of his posts in September and I was impatient to listen to it. Bravo,Edgar Moreau! Such an emotional solo! Love Wieczyslaw Weinberg : Cello Concerto so passionately performed by Sinfonieorchester under the baton of impeccable conductor Andris Poga.
Thank you, WDR Klassik.

[@WDRKlassik]

We are glad you like the video!

[@gerdlindlar1980]

sehr berührend

[@lowe7471]

Stunning piece. Expert performance by soloist and ensemble. Excellent audio/video as well. Thank you for sharing this.

[@WDRKlassik]

You're welcome!
We're glad that you like our performance 😊

[@jiyoon2015]

Traumhaft schön! Danke für das Teilen.

[@bugatti103]

bravo! love the Allegro... reminds me of Barber cello concerton in places... big Dimtri S fan also

[@CHTsaitaiwan]

Unglaublich schön. Danke.

[@WDRKlassik]

Immer wieder gern!😉

[@barrydavis987]

A perfect upload of a remarkable work. The balance is very good. Many thanks for this.

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you!

[@user-hq5sr6oj1z]

По-моему субъективному мнению, Эдгар Моро на сегодняшний день является одним из лучших виолончелистов. Его безупречная техника и интерпретация погружают в другой мир. Спасибо!

[@lylaarranjo5887]

Maravilhosa composição com excelente interpretação, principalmente do cellista

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you!

[@steph2890]

danke, love his playing~

[@AydarAkhmady]

5:20

[@janklaas6885]

©️23:03
²©️13:34

[@celloguy]

Another tedious rendition of this masterpiece. Just as Callas spoiled us for the Bel canto, Rostropovich spoiled us for all the Russian cello concerto literature..

[@zoomnv]

Try the Gunnarsson recording for more emotion and storytelling.