Kabalevsky’s two cello concertos couldn’t be more different. The First is a bright, brief, jolly piece very much in the style of the composer of The Comedians. The Second, on the other hand, is an intense, brooding, much darker work written on a far grander scale. Lasting nearly half an hour, and concluding with a slowish Andante, you could be forgiven for mistaking the music for an unknown work of Shostakovich. That quiet ending means that the piece will probably never make it into the repertoire, however much it deserves to, but it’s a genuinely moving and very serious addition to the large list of worthy 20th-century cello concertos.
Torleif Thedéen, as his recordings for BIS attest, is an excellent cellist, with a completely secure technique and a rich, singing tone. He enters fully into the very different worlds of each piece, sustaining the long lines in the outer movements of the Second concerto particularly well. Eijo Oue and the NDR Radio Philharmonic accompany him securely and sensitively, and the well-balanced sonics place both soloist and orchestra in a flattering light.
The suite from Colas Breugnon makes a fine coupling, led with enthusiasm by Adrian Prabava. I can imagine him giving the “Public Misery” movement a touch more grit, but the performance is in all other respects very enjoyable, and it’s good to hear more music than just the usual overture. The endless booklet notes are printed in teeny tiny type, which is a good thing because if you try to read them you will find them pretentious and virtually irrelevant to the experience of listening to the music.
