Bliss Cello Concerto - 'Cellist's fine style in Bliss Concerto'

Sir Arthur Bliss's recent cello concerto received its London premiere last night in a programme given by the Chanticleer Orchestra at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and it was excellently performed by the young cellist Julian Lloyd Webber.

With his customary orchestral expertise, Bliss solves brilliantly the problems of balance, posed by the medium, supporting the cello most colourfully yet always allowing it to penetrate.

Both the opening Allegro and the slow movement seem to have ceremonial overtones, yet this is not a pompous work, rather it is capricious and light in spirit with moments of magical lyricism, and the two veins of feeling are often thrown into mercurial contrast.

Mr Lloyd Webber's confident and stylish interpretation was for the most part well accompanied by the orchestra under Ruth Gipps.

Anthony Payne