Britten cello suites

Jamie Walton (cello)

Signum - SIGCD 336

A fine account of Britten's solo cello music, inspired by admiration of Rostropovich, and stemming from a "challenging" period of this cellist's life.

There is an ample note by M.Ross, explaining the complicate relationships between Britten, Rostropovich and Sacher.

An excellent CD but do listen to the Suites one at a time !

Peter Grahame Woolf

Rachmaninov & Grieg - Cello Sonatas

Jamie Walton (cello) & Daniel Grimwood (piano)

Signum - SIGCD 172

Jamie Walton is a prolific studio recording cellist; he tours widely in concert, but I have not chanced to hear him live.

I had been disappointed, particularly by the balance, in his recording of the Elgar concerto, but like this one far better.

Walton had previously recorded the Rachmaninov with one of my favourite pianists, Charles Owen, earning special plaudits in the Daily Telegraph [Somm, 2002] - I have not heard it.

The present account, with his regular duo partner Daniel Grimwood, is fluent and thoroughly satisfactory, but I felt greater engagement in the Grieg coupling, a very satisfying performance, with the two players equals and well engineered at Wyastone, February 2009.

Recommended.

Pete Grahame Woolf