Schumann & Schnittke: Cello Concertos

Alfred Schnittke’s first cello concerto (he would later write a second one for Rostropovich) was composed during a very particular period in his life, as he almost died from stroke during its composition. The result is an amazingly expressive music, perfectly rendered by Schnittke’s close friend Natalia Gutman, to whom the piece is dedicated. This recording is released as part of our Kurt Masur retrospective, here conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It is coupled with Robert Schumann’s cello concerto.