Eight composers, eight premiere recordings with a legendary orchestra, and one soloist: London Cello: Connection is a captivating compendium of contemporary compositions by celebrated cellist Ovidiu Marinescu and the London Symphony Orchestra with conductor Miran Vaupotić. Marinescu’s technical command provides the continuous thread throughout the program, from the elegant 'Sarabande' by Marvin Lamb to Arthur Gottschalk’s regal 'Brunetti Meditations' to the shimmering, pulsing 'Soul Dance' of Diane Jones, connecting and contrasting each of these works and others by John Robertson, Katherine Price, Joanna Estelle, L Peter Deutsch, and Keith Kramer...

I normally have a slight foreboding when preparing to listen to works by contemporary composers - especially compilations that include several composers. My main fear is that there's always at least a handful of avant-garde artists who feel it necessary to be as atonal as possible. Thankfully, on London Cello: Connection every single contribution has its roots in melodic, traditional composition. Sure, there's the occasional "noise" element, but they all have substance and a strong traditional foundation.

For example, Keith Kramer's 'Luce del Sole' has jarring, unsettling sections that wouldn't feel out of place in the soundtrack to a horror movie, but it never strays into atonal territory.

All eight pieces (47 min, 23 sec) draw you in with memorable and interesting themes. I was particularly enamoured with Arthur Gottschalk's 'Brunetti Meditations' which shifts and changes, delivering a wonderfully diverse collection of moods and set pieces.

Do yourself a favour. Pick up this emotive and spiritually rewarding collection of beautifully layered works.

Track listing:

Marvin Lamb
01. Sarabande for Cello and Orchestra (5:50)

John Robertson
02. Celebratory Music (5:46)

Katherine Price
03. The Two-Headed Calf (3:58)

Joanna Estelle
04. I Am My Home (5:35)

Diane Jones
05. Soul Dance (5:32)

L Peter Deutsch
06. The Forest Stream (5:48)

Keith Kramer
07. Luce del Sole (6:20)

Arthur Gottschalk
08. Brunetti Meditations (8:40)

9

Darren Rea