Rodrigo

“Concierto in modo galante” for Cello and Orchestra

Concierto en Modo Galante

1 Mov. – Allegro Grazioso

Concierto en Modo Galante

2 Mov. – Adagietto

Concierto en Modo Galante

3 Mov. – Rondo Giocoso

Concierto Como un divertimento

1 Mov. – Allegretto

Concierto Como un divertimento

2 Mov. – Adagio Nostálgico

Concierto Como un divertimento

3 Mov. – Allegro scherzando

  • CD Ref. 8.555840
  • Naxos

The Concierto in modo galante for cello and orchestra was composed by Joaquín Rodrigo for cellist Gaspar Cassadó and dates from 1949. Although the composer was somewhat reluctant to write another concerto at that stage of his career, he ultimately found the structure that suited him: an opening Allegretto grazioso followed by an Adagietto and a Rondo giocoso. The work draws its inspiration from eighteenth-century Spain and the music of Boccherini, and has a popular feel, along with touches of irony. Cassadó judged the concerto as “an excellent work and a significant addition to the cello/orchestra repertoire … its instrumentation is so economical as to make this one of the few scores in which the solo cello is never drowned out by the weight of the orchestra”.