Cello Concerto (2007) by Errollyn Wallen
While Errollyn Wallen is a widely known and respected composer in the United Kingdom – where she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2020 and also Master of the King’s Music by King Charles III in 2024 – I would wager most Americans have never heard of her. It is a great shame because Wallen is truly an incredibly gifted composer who draws from a fascinatingly wide range of musical styles and influences.
My pick from her vast catalogue is the Cello Concerto, which Wallen wrote for Matthew Sharp in 2007. It opens with a striking extended solo cello cadenza before the string orchestra joins in and lays out a shimmering background for the soloist to spin out the most gorgeous, singing melodies. You can check out my Spotify playlist to hear Sharp’s fantastic recording from 2016, but I would also recommend this fantastic video from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, which offers a fascinating 15 minute conversation with Wallen before giving us the Scotland premiere of Wallen’s concerto (note the pandemic era social distancing on stage) and a gorgeous performance by American cellist Madelyn Kowalski, who was a graduate student there at the time.
Want to learn/hear more? Check these out:
– An interview with Wallen and Sharp about the writing, workshopping, and recording of the concerto.
– An overview of Wallen’s career from Gramophone magazine, including lots of great recommendations for exploring the incredible range of her work.
– Another introduction from the Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy to Wallen’s work with more selections to enjoy.
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