Suite for Viola and Orchestra
Parry Karp, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Kenneth Woods
Schelomo: Rhapsodie Hébraïque is the most celebrated part of Ernest Bloch's Jewish Cycle. Although originally intended for voice, Bloch found that only the cello could adequately embody the character of Solomon. The Suite for viola and piano was composed between February and May 1919, and the cello version is the work of pianist and composer Adolph Baller and cellist Gábor Rejtő, who recorded their version in 1969. This album contains the world premiere of the cello version for orchestra, with cellist Parry Karp, who studied with Rejtő. "Recording these two masterworks with conductor Kenneth Woods and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a dream come true," says Parry Karp.
