Lutosławski: Cello Concerto Paul York, University of Louisville Symphony Orchestra & Kimcherie Lloyd

• Witold Lutosławski (1913 - 1994): Cello Concerto:
• 1 Cello Concerto: I. Introduction 06:12
• 2 Cello Concerto: II. Four Episodes 07:43
• 3 Cello Concerto: III. Cantilena 05:57
• 4 Cello Concerto: IV. Finale 08:47
• Total Runtime 28:39

Info zu Lutosławski: Cello Concerto

Polish composer Witold Lutosławski (1913–1994) composed his magnificent Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in 1969–70 at the request of the Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and by commission of London’s Royal Philharmonic Society and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The work received its premiere performance on October 14, 1970.

In a conversation with his friend, the critic Tadeusz Kaczyński, the composer recounted the serendipitous circumstances that resulted in the work. Lutosławski had met Rostropovich in the mid-1960s, and the renowned cellist expressed interest in having a piece by him. At the same time, the Royal Philharmonic Society also requested a work from Lutosławski. As Lutosławski had just completed two large works for orchestra alone, he proposed writing the Cello Concerto. Rostropovich made the generous offer to Lutosławski that he “not bother with the technique of the instrument … [but simply]

Paul York, cello
University of Louisville Symphony Orchestra
Kimcherie Lloyd, conductor

Paul York
Recently hailed by The New York Times for his “warm-toned” performance of Lutosławski’s Grave (Metamorphoses), cellist Paul York is an accomplished soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. He currently serves on the string faculty at the University of Louisville, where he maintains an active teaching and performing schedule. Recent solo appearances include performances of Karel Husa’s Concerto for Violincello and Orchestra at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Aaron Jay Kernis’s Colored Field for Cello and Orchestra with the Louisville Orchestra, and Vivaldi’s Double Concerto in G Minor with internationally acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Of his performance at Carnegie Hall, New York Concert Review said “The fiendishly difficult solo part was brilliantly played by cellist Paul York; one had to be in awe of his playing.”

An avid chamber musician, Mr. York is a member of the Louisville String Quartet and was a founding member of The Logsdon Chamber Ensemble, a Texas Commission of the Arts Touring ensemble as well as ensemble-in-residence at Hardin-Simmons University. In April of 2006, he performed recitals throughout Japan. As a champion of contemporary music, Mr. York has commissioned works for the cello by such composers as Stefan Freund, Marc Satterwhite, Steve Rouse, Paul Brink, Douglas Knehans, and Fredrick Speck. He also premiered the work Ballad for Solo Cello and Seven Cellos by Grawemeyer and Pulitzer Prize winning composer, Aaron Jay Kernis as well as Alfred Bartles' new orchestration of Bartok’s First Rhapsody for cello with the Sewanee Festival Orchestra.

Mr. York has participated in numerous summer festivals. He is currently a member of the artist faculty at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, where he performs solo and chamber works, in addition to his teaching schedule. He has also performed at Strings in the Mountains in Colorado, Accent 09 and 11 at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, the Abilene Chamber Music Series, and served as principal cello with the Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra. He has held principal cello positions with numerous regional orchestras and performed as a member of the cello section of the Saint Louis Symphony under the direction of Leonard Slatkin.

Mr. York received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and his master of music degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he studied with Ronald Leonard. Other teachers include Gabor Rejto, and Louis Potter. The recipient of numerous honors and awards, Mr. York was selected to participate in the prestigious Piatigorsky seminar at the University of South California and recently received a Distinguished Faculty Award from the University of Louisville. Mr. York can be heard on the Centaur, Arizona University Press, Ablaze, and CRS labels. His latest CD of premiere recordings entitled Cello Vision has recently been released on the Centaur label.

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