British Cello Works, Vol. 2 Lionel Handy & Jennifer Hughes

• Ethel Smyth (1858 - 1944): Cello Sonata in A Minor, Op. 5:
• 1 Smyth: Cello Sonata in A Minor, Op. 5: I. Allegro moderato 07:17
• 2 Smyth: Cello Sonata in A Minor, Op. 5: II. Adagio non troppo 07:06
• 3 Smyth: Cello Sonata in A Minor, Op. 5: III. Allegro vivace e grazioso 05:19
• Frederick Delius (1862 - 1934): Cello Sonata, RT VIII/7:
• 4 Delius: Cello Sonata, RT VIII/7 13:20
• Armstrong Gibbs (1889 - 1960): Cello Sonata in E Minor, Op. 132:
• 5 Gibbs: Cello Sonata in E Minor, Op. 132: I. Allegro moderato 05:17
• 6 Gibbs: Cello Sonata in E Minor, Op. 132: II. Lento, molto cantabile "Resting" 03:26
• 7 Gibbs: Cello Sonata in E Minor, Op. 132: III. Broadly 03:52
• Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976): Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65:
• 8 Britten: Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65: I. Dialogo. Allegro 06:47
• 9 Britten: Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65: II. Scherzo pizzicato. Allegretto 02:26
• Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65:
• 10 Britten, Britten: Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65: III. Elegia. Lento 05:46
• 11 Britten: Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65: IV. Marcia. Energico 02:15
• 12 Britten: Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65: V. Moto Perpetuo. Presto 02:36
• Total Runtime 01:05:27

Info for British Cello Works, Vol. 2

"A follow up to the British Cello Works project. This release features the works of Ethel Smyth, Frederick Delius, Armstrong Gibbs, and Benjamin Britten performed by Cellist Lionel Handy and Pianist Jennifer Walsh (née Hughes). In her A minor Sonata, Op.5 Ethel Smyth favours expressivity over virtuosity, emphasising the cello’s warm and lyrical tone. The piano enjoys a key role in all three movements and is often invited to present the chief subject matter rather than merely playing a supporting role accompanying the cello line. The Cello Sonata is one of Delius’s most satisfying chamber works and is distinguished by the expressive power both instruments enter at the same time, the cello unfolding a songlike, long-limbed line, while the piano presents the main idea. A second key theme, introduced by the cello over the piano’s rippling, arpeggiated chords, is more forthright and sharply defined. An unattributed review of Gibbs’s Cello Sonata in E published in The Musical Times in 1953, found it to be ‘an ideal piece of work for cellists who want something contemporary on which to develop their technique, for its difficulties are of the sort which repays practice’. Thanks to this recording of the work more than seventy years after its completion, contemporary listeners now have an opportunity to appreciate its melodic strength, understated formal artistry and grateful writing for both instruments. Britten’s Cello Sonata is a challenging, bravura piece that benefits immeasurably from the natural affinity between composer and cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. The relationship would inspire Britten to produce four more major works for Rostropovich who wrote of the work, ‘This is a sonata full of surprises, innovations for any cellist, gifts for the musician flowing freely from the horn of plenty. We meet not merely a novelty in finger-work but, what is most important, a new kind of expressive and profound dramatic composition’."

Lionel Handy, cello
Jennifer Walsh, piano

Lionel Handy
As well as publishing his book “The Secret of Technique in Cello Playing”, Lionel Handy has recently recorded the iconic Kodaly Solo Sonata, and a world premiere recording of the Stanley Bate Cello Concerto with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

His extensive recordings has led to many stellar reviews from The Strad, Music Web International, and International Record Review. His latest CD includes recording premiers of works by British composers including Lutyens, Maconchy, and Smyth and follows on from his recording of the complete cello works of Bax.

Lionel Handy was principal cellist of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields for ten years with whom he recorded and toured extensively throughout USA and Europe. Later, as solo cellist with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, he performed an eclectic range of concertos ranging from CPE Bach and Haydn to Taverner and Roxburgh. Lionel has played as guest principal cellist with many of the UK’s leading orchestras including the Philharmonia, LSO, RLPO, LPO, ECO and Halle. Lionel is ‘Artist-in-Residence’ of the newly former professional chamber orchestra, The Nova Foresta Classical Players, with whom he has performed concertos by Shostakovich and Haydn to critical acclaim.

As a scholarship student, Lionel won every prize for cello and chamber music at the Royal Academy of Music; and was also awarded First Prize by Jacqueline Du Pre in the Muriel Taylor Competition. With several other important awards, Lionel was able to continue his studies with Janos Starker in Banff and Pierre Fournier in Geneva.

Lionel has been a professor at the Royal Academy of Music since 1982, in addition to teaching at summer schools and masterclasses throughout Europe. Many of his former pupils hold important positions in orchestra and chamber ensembles.

He was awarded Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Music, and plays on a cello by Fendt (circa1820).

Booklet for British Cello Works, Vol. 2