Beguiling masterpieces for cello and orchestra—and a beloved orchestral gem—by Tchaikovsky, Russia’s most universally revered composer

Pezzo Capriccioso is a dense and challenging performance piece.  Originally composed with a somewhat abrupt ending, Nina Kotova offers a more traditional, longer closing. Nina exemplifies the Tchaikovsky’s innate understanding of the instrument and illustrates perfectly how he brings this understanding to life. This is a very beautiful performance and quality recording done with marvelous poise, and is exquisitely lovely.

As I closed my eyes and listened…

” there was this building excitement … and then it was finished, and the audience came to its feet shouting their approval.”

The cello in this one simply blazed. Technique indeed!

Listen and buy

“ … a strong and individual artist whose depth of feeling and technical control are never in doubt” (Gramophone)

Kotova and company begin with Tchaikovsky’s lively Pezzo capriccioso before serving listeners the main course: one of the world’s most beloved works for cello and orchestra, the gorgeous Variations on a Rococo Theme. Then the cellist bows out as we are treated to one of the composer’s greatest orchestral pieces of smaller scale, the shimmering Serenade for Strings. In all, it’s a program filled with soaring melodies and sheer musical delight.

This lush and lovely album offers beguiling masterpieces for cello and orchestra by Russia’s most revered composer—played to perfection by the musical team of renowned Russian-American cellist Nina Kotova, with the legendary Russian maestro Vladimir Fedoseyev leading Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra: all musicians who have these soulful pieces in their very bones.

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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:

1. Pezzo capriccioso, Op. 62 (6:24)
   
   Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 (18:54)
2. Moderato assai quasi Andante—Thema: Moderato semplice (2:46)
3. Variation I: Tempo della Thema (0.53)
4. Variation II: Tempo della Thema (1:25)
5. Variation III: Andante sostenuto (3:52)
6. Variation IV: Andante grazioso (1:51)
7. Variation V: Allegro moderato (3:18)
8. Variation VI: Andante (2:42)
9. Variation VII e Coda: Allegro vivo (2:04)Serenade for Strings, Op. 48 (34:08)
10. Pezzo in forma di sonatina: Andante non troppo—Allegro moderato (10:44)
11. Valse: Moderato—Tempo di valse (4:51)
12. Élégie: Larghetto elegiaco (10:27)
13. Finale (Tema russo): Andante—Allegro con spirito (8:06)

Nina Kotova, cello
Vladimir Fedoseyev, conductor
Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra

Total Playing Time: 59:37