New CD

Exciting times are upon me with the follow up release of a new CD - Shostakovich concerto No.2 and Britten's cello symphony, two unsung masterpieces from the cello literature and in fact two of my favourites not only to play but to hear also. The Philharmonia under Alexander Briger are inspirational.

This is the second part of a trilogy I'm exploring, matching an English work with a Russian, all twentieth century and linked in some way or other either politically or musically. I'll be following this next year with the Shostakovich concerto No.1 and the Walton (inevitably!)

One may ask why I recorded Shostakovich's lesser known second concerto before the first - it's simply because I consider it a greater work which is saying something: the concerto No.1 is a work of genius also. It's a dream I've wished to fulfill for over 10 years when I became obsessed with both the concerto No.2 and the titanic Britten cello symphony. With the death of Rostropovich, this is also an hommage to the great man - after all, they were inspired by and written for him.

Relieved to see the critics understand what I'm saying musically and as I explore my Guarneri cello on an increasingly deeper level, the recordings begin to reflect this aspect of my playing - much more to come. Much, much more ... .