The Daily Telegraph 24th November 1975

Vivid reactions to Britten cello works

In the Cello Sonata, where he was joined by Yitkin Seow at the piano, his tone was robust and well varied, though always tending to darker hues. Both artists were best amid the slightly outlandish excitements of the “Moto Perpetuo”.

Britten’s compositional virtuosity is especially apparent in the two unaccompanied Suites, with their fugues and diverse character pieces. Mr. Webber’s own virtuosity was very apparent in both works and he coped admirably with such problems as the extreme dynamic contrasts of No.2’s Declamato while showing a strong affinity with the brooding lyricism of the Lamento in No.1.

M.H.

The Glasgow Herald 24th October 1975

Britten Cellos Suites 1 and 2

At Thursday’s lunchtime concert Julian Lloyd Webber played the two unaccompanied cello suites written by Benjamin Britten for Rostropovich.

Webber is an enormously talented player and these technically very demanding works appear to cause him no problems; playing from memory his intonation was faultless.

As to his interpretations, they were deeply revealing.

Malcolm Rayment