Raphaela Gromes - Klengel, Schumann: Romantic Cello Concertos (2020) [Hi-Res]

The Munich cellist Raphaela Gromes has long been celebrated for her brilliant and expressive cello playing. Her last two albums on Sony Classical "Offenbach" and "Richard-Stauss-Cello Sonatas" (with the world premiere recording of the original version of Strauss' Cello Sonata) have just been nominated for the Opus Classic. What also distinguishes the cellist is her enjoyment of the musical treasure hunt. Gromes also surprises with a world premiere on her new album: it is the 3rd Cello Concerto op. 31 by Brahms and Strauss contemporary Julius Klengel (1859-1933), who was acclaimed as a miracle cellist throughout Europe at an early age. The previously unpublished manuscript of this concerto has now been arranged for Gromes' recording. It is full of voluptuous melodies with an almost Mendelssohnian lightness, says the cellist about the work, which she recorded together with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin conducted by Nicholas Carter. Also on the programme are the famous cello concerto by Robert Schumann, a Romance for cello and orchestra by Richard Strauss, and romantic duo pieces by R. Schumann, Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms: Robert Schumann's "Dedication" is taken from the song cycle "Myrthen" and was newly arranged for cello and piano by Julian Riem. The "Romance" for cello and piano by Clara Schumann is originally the middle movement of her 1st piano concerto. And the arrangement of Brahms' "Hungarian Dance No. 5" is by the famous cellist Alfredo Piatti. In these works, Gromes is accompanied by her long-time piano partner Julian Riem.