Pieter Wispelwey is among the first of a generation of performers who are equally at ease on the modern and the period cello. His acute stylistic awareness, combined with a truly original interpretation and a phenomenal technical mastery, has won the hearts of critics and public alike in repertoire ranging from J.S. Bach to Elliott Carter.
His career spans five continents and he has appeared as soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras. His discography, available on Channel Classics and now ONYX, displays an impressive line-up of more than twenty recordings, six of which have attracted major international awards. He plays on a 1760 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini cello and a 1710 Rombouts baroque cello.
This latest release includes one of the most attractive and popular pieces in the chamber repertoire, Schubert’s ‘Arpeggione’ Sonata, with Wispelwey providing fresh insight into this delightful and haunting work. It is coupled with two unique arrangements for cello and piano, the Duo in A and the Fantasy in C, that late masterpiece, both originally for violin and piano. These arrangements receive their world premiere recording in this release. Wispelwey is masterfully supported by Paolo Giacometti on the fortepiano.
Pieter Wispelwey cello and Paolo Giacometti fortepiano. Fortepiano; La Grassa, Viennese School 1815 from Collection Edwin Beunk, Enschede, Netherlands Cello; G.B. Guadagnini, Parma 1760
