Muhly/Helbig/Long: Three Continents, Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 2 Jan Vogler

• Nico Muhly (b. 1981): Cello Concerto "Three Continents":
• 1 Cello Concerto "Three Continents": I. Cello Cycles 09:42
• Sven Helbig (b. 1968): Cello Concerto "Three Continents":
• 2 Cello Concerto "Three Continents": II. Aria 11:15
• Zhou Long (b. 1953): Cello Concerto "Three Continents":
• 3 Cello Concerto "Three Continents": III. Tipsy Poet 11:21
• Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975): Cello Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 126:
• 4 Cello Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 126: I. Largo 11:49
• 5 Cello Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 126: II. Allegretto 04:09
• 6 Cello Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 126: III. Allegretto 13:58
• Total Runtime 01:02:14

Info for Muhly/Helbig/Long: Three Continents, Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 2

German Cellist Jan Vogler's new album features two modern cello concertos. The first is the world premiere recording of the cello concerto "Three Continents" by Nico Muhly (*1981), Sven Helbig (*1968) and Zhou Long (*1953). Three Continents Cello Concerto is a unique collaborative work celebrating the sheer diversity of three composers from three different continents (USA, Germany, China) and almost three different generations. Each movement of the concerto takes a different view of the role of the soloist: Muhly's Cello Cycles uses the large orchestra to striking effect to create a soundscape full of color. Rather than spotlighting the soloist, this movement features the cello as part of the texture very much as in a Baroque concerto grosso. By contrast, Helbig's Aria opens with a series of atmospheric chords cycling through the lower strings of the cello and highlights the beautiful singing qualities of the instrument. Long's lively final movement, Tipsy Poet, has a more narrative structure based on a well-known Chinese poem and features evocations of Chinese instruments in a colorful soundscape. The result is a fascinating contrasting whole, celebrating musical styles across a vast cultural space. This piece was world-premiered by Jan Vogler with the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra (WDR), conducted by Cristian M celaru at the Dresden Music Festival 2019. The second cello concerto on the album is the Cello Concerto No. 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 1975). Jan Vogler recorded the Cello Concerto No. 2 by Shostakovich with the orchestra of Mariinsky Theater St. Petersburg under Valery Gergiev also during the Dresden Music Festival 2019. Their concerts received great critical acclaim. "Jan Vogler sings with his instrument, full of happiness and enthusiasm, it seems, with admirably flawless technique. One notices how much he is with the music, how he is absorbed in it, how he almost seems to be grown together with his cello." (rbb Kulturradio)

Jan Vogler, cello
WDR Sinfonieorchester
Cristian Macelaru, conductor
Mariinsky Orchestra
Valery Gergiev, conductor

Jan Vogler
distinguished career has seen him perform with renowned conductors and internationally acclaimed orchestras around the world. His strong classical foundation has allowed him to push the boundaries of his sound, creating an ongoing dialogue with contemporary composers and performers. He regularly premieres new works, most recently compositions by celebrated composers Tigran Mansurian (with WDR Sinfonieorchester conducted by Semyon Bychkov), John Harbison (with Mira Wang, the Boston Symphony Orchestra), Udo Zimmermann (Bavarian Radio Orchestra) and Wolfgang Rim (Duo Concerto with Mira Wang). A prolific and multi-award-winning recording artist, Jan records exclusively for SONY Classical. His newest release is Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations, Serenade melancholique and Meditation with the HR-Sinfonieorchester, conducted by Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Other recent CD’s include Concerti a Venezia with La Folia Baroque Orchestra, the Schumann album “Dichterliebe” with Hélène Grimaud, and his critically acclaimed and award-winning recording of Bach’s Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello (2012).

Highlights of the 2015-2016 season include the world premiere of Wolfgang Rihm’s Duo Concerto with Mira Wang and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, concert appearances with the Boston Symphony conducted by Andris Nelsons, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra led by Alain Altinoglu, the Dresden Philharmonic with Juanjo Mena, the Singapore Symphony, Leipzig Radio Orchestra led by Kristjan Järvi, the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg with Ivor Bolton and the Dresden Festival Orchestra, also with Ivor Bolton. As well Jan undertakes a German recital tour in January 2016 with pianist and frequent collaborator Martin Stadtfeld. Jan Vogler has been Artistic Director of the Moritzburg Festival near Dresden since 2001, and Intendant of the Dresden Music Festival since October 2008. In 2006, he received the European Award for Culture and in 2011 the Erich-Kästner Award for tolerance, humanity and international understanding. For his recording of Bach’s six Suites for cello solo he was awarded the ECHO Klassik 2014 award in the category “Instrumentalist of the Year (cello)”.

Jan Vogler plays the Stradivari 'Ex Castelbarco/Fau' 1707 cello and shares his time between New York City, where he lives with his wife and two daughters, and Dresden, Germany.

Booklet for Muhly/Helbig/Long: Three Continents, Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 2