Inspired by the personality, prodigious technique and musicality of the cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Cello Concerto in G minor is a work of imposing scale and demanding virtuosity, but also with a rare beauty and warmth of expression.

The Concerto has 3 movements: the first is vigorous, Romantic, searching, adventurous. It also requires a serious technique (which Piatigorsky certainly had). The second movement has an interesting marking: Allegretto gentile. It is amusing and off-kilter—pleasantly off-kilter. There is a hint of the Gypsy about it, or of the Hebraic. Also, like the concerto at large, this movement is imaginatively orchestrated. The last movement: Vivo e impetuoso. It has some dancing in it, and it makes major, major demands on a cellist’s fingers.