Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Concerto pour violoncelle n° 1, op. 33, R 193
Allegro Appassionato en si mineur, op. 43, R 119 (version pour violoncelle et orchestre)
"Le Cygne", R 125 n° 13 (trans. pour violoncelle et orchestre de P. Vidal)

Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881)
Concerto pour violoncelle n° 1 en la mineur, op. 46

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
Elégie, op. 24 (version pour violoncelle et orchestre)

Peter Martens, violoncelle
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra
Bernhard Gueller, direction

Henri Vieuxtemps’ fiendishly difficult but beautifully melodious Cello Concerto no. 1 in A minor is the central work on this CD, which also includes Saint- Saëns’ Cello Concerto no.1, as well as his Allegro Appassionato, which is seldom heard in its orchestral guise. All these works are French/Belgian in origin and pioneered by the leading Belgian cellists of the day. South African cellist Peter Martens , who himself enjoys Belgian ancestry, is partnered by Bernhard Gueller, showcasing the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at its very best