Schumann | Dvořák
Concerti for Cello
& Orchestra
Carmine Miranda, cello
OVERVIEW
Composed almost 50 years apart, Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B Minor (1895) and Schumann’s Cello Concerto (1850) are closely linked in the pantheon of Romantic concerto literature. Cellists of many generations have long looked at both of these pieces as essential components in their artistic development, and each has been recorded many times over by the titans of the instrument to showcase their technical mastery.
At age 26 international soloist Carmine Miranda bases his interpretations of these masterworks from several years of historic research and performance experience, which have led him to discover new secrets to be found in the scores of the Navona Records release SCHUMANN | DVOŘÁK: CONCERTI FOR CELLO & ORCHESTRA. Miranda, whose playing has been described as “remarkable” (Gramophone), “a fiery presence” (Limelight) and “spectacular” (Sonograma Magazine), seeks to balance concepts of classical traditions, multinational folklore, and technical prowess combined with a state-of-the-art high-definition audio engineering in order to create the most realistic sound and reliable version of these works.
Composed in a period of two weeks and lasting over a two year revision by the composer, Schumann’s Cello Concerto is considered to be one of his most enigmatic works due to its structure. Originally titled “Concertpiece,” it differs from other instances of its genre, with its fully connected structure from beginning to end and by including more fragmented passages.
Miranda’s take is decidedly diverse from other contemporary interpretations, and deliberately follows historical traditions in terms of tempi, dynamics, and phrasing. In the soloist’s reading, Schumann’s “variations on a theme” musical intentions are interpreted as a series of internal conflicts and conversations between the solo cello and the orchestra. In his recent article “Decoding the Schumann Cello Concerto” (The Musical Times Journal of Music), Miranda makes a compelling case that Schumann’s work is brimming with embedded codes and underlying meanings, which, when taken together, point to a very different vision than the norm.
Dvořák’s explosive concerto in many ways marks the coalescence and arrival of the cello concerto, which matured at the end of the nineteenth century, with other cello concertos coming from Camille Saint-Saens, Édouard Lalo, Edgar Elgar, and many others. Here too Miranda seeks to ramp up the emotionally-charged content, creating new and striking contrasts that have not been heard in any other recorded interpretations. Harmonies splash like dollops of brightly colored paint on a white canvas, and Miranda’s elegant playing transforms this already demanding concerto into a virtuosic piece of the highest order.
Both works were recorded over two days in June 2015 in the Czech Republic with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Petr Vronský.
Click HERE to download a digital booklet containing
liner notes and biographies
HIGHLIGHTS
Musicweb International hails, “…one remains dazzled by Miranda’s musical acumen, by his unerring instinct for phrasing, by his utterly clear articulation, and by his refusal to sacrifice delicacy or gravitas for the sake of showmanship”
At the ages of 22 and 23, Miranda recorded Bach’s Six Cello Suites and Alfredo Piatti’s virtuosic solo cello pieces, the album PIATTI: 12 CAPRICES FOR SOLO CELLO (Navona) being among the youngest in the world to record these entire works
Miranda has performed with ensembles and orchestras in concert halls around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Aula Magna Hall, Smetana Hall as well as at festivals including the world renowned International Český Krumlov Music Festival
He has received several awards including Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals from the 2014 Global Music Awards for Best of Show (GMA's highest honor), Best Emerging Artist and Best Instrumentalist, a 2015 Hollywood Music in Media Awards nomination, first prize winner of the 2005 Alhambra Music Competition, National Prize for Best Soloist from the Florida Music Educators Association, and a Distinguished Award from the 2012 IBLA international competition, among others
Miranda’s performances have been broadcasted on radio stations all over the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia as well as appearing on TV stations such as PBS
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Valencia in 1988 to Italian immigrants and moving to the United States at an early age, Carmine Filippo Miranda (Carmine Miranda) is a Venezuelan-American cellist, international soloist and recording artist. Carmine began his musical studies at the age of seven at the Carabobo State Music Conservatory in Venezuela, where he studied his first years of Theory and Solfege, finally graduating from the Private Institute of Musical Education or I.P.E.M. He studied with cellists Luisa Fuentes, Valmore Nieves and William Molina, at the Latin-American Academy of Violoncello, and the Simon Bolivar Conservatory of Music (the institution that spawned the famous “El Sistema”). At the same time he was a member of the National Youth Orchestra and the Orchestra of Beethoven under the direction of Giuseppe Sinoppoli.
In the U.S. he studied with cellists Ross Harbaugh, Lee Fiser (LaSalle String Quartet) and is a pupil of cellist Yehuda Hanani at the University Of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he obtained a Bachelors of Arts in music, Master’s Degree and Doctorate’s degree candidacy. He has participated in several music competitions as a soloist and chamber player winning several recognitions and awards at a national and international level. Among them include: the Coral Gables Music Club Award for “Best Instrumentalist”, won the first prize of the 2005 Alhambra Music Competition, 2005-2006 National Orchestra Award for “Best Soloist” from the FMEA (Florida Music Educators Association), the 08-09 University of Cincinnati Cello Competition, a Distinguished Award from the 2012 IBLA international competition, “Gold”, “Silver” and “Bronze” Medals from the 2014 Global Music Awards for Best Of Show (GMA's highest honor), Best Emerging Artist, Best Instrumentalist, a 2015 Hollywood Music in Media Awards nomination and also a laureate of Fischoff, Concert Artist Guild and Hudson Valley Competitions.
Carmine’s performances and recordings have appeared in radio stations all over the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia. An avid soloist, he has performed with several chamber ensembles and orchestras including: Caracas Municipal Symphony, Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, South Czech Philharmonic, Moravian Philharmonic, among others. Carmine has also performed in prominent concert halls and music festivals around the world including Carnegie Hall (NYC), Smetana Hall (CZ), the Aula Magna Hall (VE), International Český Krumlov Music Festival, Parma Music Festival, Bowdoin Music Festival, Close Encounters with Music Series in Great Barrington, NY and many more. Carmine has collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists such as Yehuda Hanani, Awadagin Pratt, Rodolfo Saglimbeni, Yuriy Yanko, Mario Košík, Petr Vronský, Spanish composer Luis Serrano Alarcón and Grammy Nominated composer Michael Hoppé.
At the age of twenty two and twenty three, Carmine recorded the Six Cello Suites by Johann Sebastian Bach under the label Centaur Records and Alfredo Piatti’s 12 Caprices for Solo Cello under the label Navona Records, joining the ranks of the youngest in the world to record these entire works. In 2013 Carmine completed the United States premiere of Nikita Koshkin's "L'istesso Tempo" composition for cello and guitar and in 2015 completed a world premiere recording of Yves Ramette’s sonata for cello and piano. He was also selected to represent the University of Cincinnati as a soloist for a multi-state American tour with the CCM Wind Orchestra culminating with an opening night performance at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) National Conference in North Carolina’s Aycock Auditorium. As a scholar, Carmine wrote an article published in one of the oldest musicological journals in the U.K. (The Musical Times, London, Spring 2016) where he uncovered a codex written by Robert Schumann in his Cello Concerto.
Likewise, Carmine is the president and founder of the independent electronic music label and production company RLU Records, equally skilled as an electronic and dance music composer, producer and DJ under the pseudonym “45trona Ut”. Currently Carmine Miranda is a recording artist for PARMA Recordings, and plays on a 2005 Jules Azzi cello made in New York City. Carmine is a Dogal USA artist and performs on Dogal’s Montagnana strings handmade in Venice, Italy.
To learn more about Carmine Miranda please visit www.carminemiranda.com.
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Release Date: June 10, 2016
Catalog #: NV6034
TRACK TITLES
Concerto For Cello & Orchestra In A minor, Op. 129
Robert Schumann
1 I. Nicht zu schnell
2 II. Langsam
3 III. Sehr lebhaft
Concerto For Cello & Orchestra In B Minor, Op. 104
ANTONIN Dvořák
4 I. Allegro
5 II. Adagio ma non troppo
6 III. Finale. Allegro moderato
Total duration 61:59
CREDITS
Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra | Petr Vronský, conductor
Carmine Miranda, cello
Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor recorded June 15, 2015
at Reduta Hall, Olomouc Czech Republic
Producer Vít Mužík
Engineer Jan Košulić
Dvořák Cello Concerto in B Minor recorded June 12-13, 2015
at Reduta Hall, Olomouc Czech Republic
Producer Vít Mužík
Engineers Aleš Dvořák & Jan Košulić
Photography Cody Vickers
Executive Producer Bob Lord
Audio Director Jeff LeRoy
Editing, Mixing, Mastering Andy Happel
Production Engineer Nate Hunter
Recording Session Manager Matt Konrad
Art Director Brett Picknell
Graphic Designer Emily Roulo
A&R Alex Bourne
Marketing Specialist Morgan MacLeod
ALSO ON NAVONA RECORDS
PIATTI: 12 CAPRICES FOR SOLO CELLO
NV5972
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