Britten: Solo Cello Suites Jamie Walton

• Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976): Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72:
• 1Canto primo: Sostenuto e largamente –02:08
• 2I. Fuga: Andante moderato –03:54
• 3II. Lamento: Lento rubato –02:15
• 4Canto secondo: Sostenuto –01:07
• 5III. Serenata: Allegretto: pizzicato –02:10
• 6IV. Marcia: Alla marcia moderato –03:24
• 7Canto terzo: Sostenuto –01:46
• 8V. Bordone: Moderato quasi recitativo –02:29
• 9VI. Moto perpetuo e Canto quarto: Presto02:55
• Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80:
• 10I. Declamato: Largo03:07
• 11II. Fuga: Andante03:48
• 12III. Scherzo: Allegro molto01:47
• 13IV. Andante lento04:18
• 14V. Ciaccona: Allegro06:25
• Cello Suite No. 3, Op. 87:
• 15I. Introduzione: Lento01:50
• 16II. Marcia: Allegro01:28
• 17III. Canto: Con moto01:01
• 18IV. Barcarola: Lento01:15
• 19V. Dialogo: Allegretto01:40
• 20VI. Fuga: Andante espressivo02:09
• 21VII. Recitativo: Fantastico01:02
• 22VIII. Moto perpetuo: Presto00:50
• 23IX. Passacaglia: Lento solenne -03:37
• 24IX. Mournful Song03:26
• Tema Sacher:
• 25Tema Sacher01:22
• Total Runtime01:01:13

Info for Britten: Solo Cello Suites

Joining several discs from Signum celebrating 2013's Britten Centenary Year comes a new collection of the three Suites for Solo Cello, performed by star UK cellist Jamie Walton. Recorded in the Britten Studio at Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, the three suites were dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich, with the passionate third in particular inspired by Rostropovich’s rich and romantic performances of Bach’s unaccompanied suites. Jamie Walton has established a reputation as a performer who deeply engages with the works he performs and records. Earlier this year he released a new recording of cello concertos by Schumann and Dvorak with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Vladimir Ashkenazy (SIGCD322):

"What has impressed me so much with regard to this account of the Dvorak is the oneness of conception between soloist and conductor. I am sure much preparation went into this performance: they are fully integrated, so we hear the work as a totality, not as a piece for virtuoso solo cello with orchestral accompaniment. This is, of its kind, a masterly performance” (International Record Review)

"Britten’s suites for solo cello are not perhaps an easy listen any more than they are easy to play, but Jamie Walton’s absorbing performances of all three seem to expose and explore the emotional heart and soul that went into the writing of them." (The Daily Telegraph)

"A musical triumph, captured in first-rate sound." Sinfini Music, July 2013 "None of this music holds terrors for Walton, with his big, bold tone and formidable technique." (The Sunday Times)

Jamie Walton, cello

Jamie Walton
was born in Germany before moving back to the UK at an early age. Noted for his rich, powerful sound with purity of tone and emotionally engaging performances he was one of the great William Pleeth’s last students who said of him: “He is a cellist of outstanding performance ability. Combining warmth of tone with a technical command that reaches dazzling proportions, he leaves little doubt as to the success that lies ahead of him - he is a musician of great integrity whose performance give great pleasure” and has already been compared by some reviewers to great ‘cellists of past times with his distinctive sound and clean interpretations marking him out as a true individualist. Jamie plays on a Guarneri instrument dated 1712.

In the UK Jamie Walton has performed concertos with London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic and Philharmonia Orchestras. He gave his BBC National Orchestra of Wales debut with a Radio 3 broadcast of the Elgar concerto and has appeared throughout much of Europe, the USA, New Zealand, Australia and the UK performing concertos, recitals and giving broadcasts in some of the world’s most eminent venues and festivals. He recently performed the Lutosławski concerto in Poland and made his Finnish debut with Bloch’s Schelomo alongside Bach and Britten Suites at the Riihimäki Summer Concerts Festival before returning for a series of Walton concertos with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Damian Iorio at the Sibelius Hall. In May 2015 Jamie gave his Canadian debut with two Elgar concerto performances with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra under Courtney Lewis at the Calgary Philharmonic Hall. As a recording artist for Signum Records he has recorded ten concertos with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, including those of Dvořák and Schumann with Vladimir Ashkenazy. Jamie has also recently recorded three concertos with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Okko Kamu, which includes the rarely performed original version of Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations. He has also recorded much of the sonata repertoire for Signum to significant critical as well as the solo suites by Benjamin Britten which he also made into a film with Paul Joyce, released on DVD through Signum Vision and premiered on Sky Arts.

Jamie Walton is as passionate about chamber musician as he is with concerto work and has performed in many of the world’s great concert halls in both capacities, including Lorin Maazel’s Chateauville Foundation in Virginia through personal invitation. The Washington Post review by Robert Battey after his debut with Finghin Collins at The Phillips Collection said: “Walton is a major cello talent. He sports a particularly strong left hand — dead-center intonation and a wonderful, lithe vibrato that’s alive in every register. Though relatively young, he plays with the dignity and reserve of a well-seasoned artist.” His activities as a player are accompanied by his role as Founder and Artistic Director of the North York Moors Chamber Music Festival which he started in 2009. The festival has exceeded all expectations in selling out every year and is now established as an annual event during the last two weeks of August with its artistic excellence reflected when, in summer 2011, being shortlisted by the Royal Philharmonic Society in the festival category of its ‘Concert Series and Festivals’ award. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, its Patron, has written a work specifically for the festival (for cello, baritone and string quartet) - ‘A Sea of Cold Flame’ is given its world premiere at the 2015 festival. Jamie is also launching his own record label for the festival (‘Ayriel Classical’), launched later this year. Jamie Walton won a scholarship to Wells Cathedral School in a period which he says remains at the soul of his music making and where his first inspirational ‘cello teacher was Margaret Moncrieff before continuing his studies with William Pleeth. He is a member of the Worshipful Company of Musicians and has been elected to the Freedom of the City of London. Jamie was awarded a Foundation Fellowship by Wells Cathedral School for his outstanding contribution to music.

Jamie plays on a Guarneri dated 1712.

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