MARIO CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895-1968): Cello Concerto in F, Op. 72 (Houston Symphony; Kazuki Yamada), Cello Transcriptions (by C-T unless specified):  Mozart:  Serenade from Don Giovanni, Arias Voi che sapete and Non so più from Le nozze di Figaro (arr. Brinton Averil Smith), Ravel: Alborada del gracioso and La Vallée des cloches, Rossini: Figaro from The Barber of Seville (arr. Averil Smith), Castelnuovo-Tedesco:  Sea Murmurs, Op. 24a (arr. Jascha Heifetz [1901-1987]).

Description: Inspired by the personality, prodigious technique and musicality of the cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Cello Concerto of 1935 is a work of imposing scale and demanding virtuosity, but also with a rare beauty and warmth of expression. This live recording documents the first professional performances of the concerto in more than 80 years, and is paired with playful and virtuosic freely-composed transcriptions for cello and piano that Castelnuovo-Tedesco made for Piatigorsky and Heifetz. Brinton Averil Smith (cello), Evelyn Chen (piano).