Sergei Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 19, was completed in November 1901 and premiered by the composer himself alongside cellist Anatoliy Brandukov (for whom he dedicated the music). Rachmaninov purportedly rejected the title of cello sonata as he viewed the cello and piano to be equally dynamic. Very often, the piano introduces a theme which is subsequently taken and embellished by the cello. As typical of sonatas in the Romantic period, it has four movements including a rich Lento – Allegro moderato, a fast paced Allegro scherzando, a sentimental Andante, and finally a triumphant Allegro mosso. Each movement contains a chain of melodies that focus less on thematic development than on the themes themselves.  The success of the sonata was overshadowed by the acclaim of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 which premiered in October of the same year. Nonetheless, the Sonata is considered one of the most important works for cello in the 20th century.

By the way, cello students learning this piece should give the music to their accompanists WAY ahead of schedule (I am talking months in advance). This work is a real doozy for even the most seasoned of players and they will need a lot of time/patience to feel comfortable in performance. You really have to take care not to be ridiculous with your tempos, lest you sacrifice your ensemble. This was all the information I could find given the tools available to me. What can I say? Enough said!

Yoshiko Endo piano

Yoshiko was born in Tokyo to an established musical family. After moving to England in 1983, she trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.  Yoshiko was a member of the Rogeri Trio for five years, with whom she gave concerts within the UK, including dates at the SBC and the Wigmore Hall, and touring engagements throughout Europe and Japan. Their acclaimed recordings of works by Dvorak, Smetana and Suk for the Meridian label was then followed by an equally acclaimed release of works by Rawsthorne for Naxos.  She has been a member of the teaching staff of the Centre for Young Musicians in London for the last ten year.

Peter Adams cello

Peter Adams’ career can truly be described as meteoric. When most musicians are still at school, the 16-year-old Peter was playing in the orchestra of London Festival Ballet. By the time he was 21, he had become principal cellist of both the London String Orchestra and the London City Ballet. Perhaps even more remarkably, he became in the same year professor of viola da gamba and baroque cello at the Royal Academy of Music – the youngest ever professor in the Academy’s history. Peter was a founder member of the Rogeri Trio and is currently a member of the Bochmann String Quartet – both groups with a large list of recordings and broadcasts. As well as regular performances with the Adderbury Ensemble in its early years, Peter has appeared as guest principal cellist with a variety of orchestras all over Britain. He is the principal cellist of the English String Orchestra, Brighton Philharmonic, Oxford Philomusica and the City of Oxford Orchestra. Peter’s interest in the viola da gamba continues with solo appearances as the director of the Elizabethan Consort of Violas.  Greatly sought-after both as a cello teacher and as a chamber music coach giving masterclasses, Peter works with a wide variety of students and young professionals across the country. He is currently teaching cello for Oxford University and for Oundle School.