Benjamin Britten composed his Cello Sonata in C at Rostropovich’s
request when the composer first met the great Russian cellist
in 1960. Britten completed it the following year, and Rostropovich
was, by all accounts, immensely - and justifiably! - fond of
the work. It here opens a carefully-chosen programme of pieces
by Britten, his teacher Frank Bridge, and contemporary composer
Mark-Anthony Turnage. The sonata is performed by cellist Guy
Johnston with utter and rather frenetic conviction and passion,
beautifully accompanied by Kathryn Stott - a promising start
to the disc.
It is followed by the Frank Bridge Spring Song and Mélodie.
These two short gems date from 1912 and 1911 respectively -
and are therefore in Bridge’s early, more romantic, style
- and receive lyrical and yet impassioned performances from
Johnston and Stott. The ensuing Sleep on - Three Lullabies
for cello and piano by Turnage was heavily influenced by
Britten’s cello suites, and one can hear how it very much
inhabits a similar sound-world. The final movement, Lullaby,
is particularly beautifully played, with a luminous and gorgeously
resonant sound from the cello.
Bridge’s Cello Sonata in D minor of 1913-17 is also radiantly
played, Johnston and Stott capturing the idiom perfectly. For
me, this spectacular performance is the highlight of the disc,
with its full-blooded, committed and purposeful playing.
The disc concludes with a short piece by Turnage composed last
year and named after his son - and Guy Johnson’s god-son
- Milo. It is a beautiful and atmospheric work, and the
excellent performance is marred only - for me at least - by
the occasional too-audible sniff from the cello soloist.
There is some superb music-making on this CD, demonstrating
a tremendous synergy between the performers, and total dedication
to the music. It is certainly a disc I would recommend to anyone
looking for excellent versions of any of these works.
Em Marshall
Guy Johnston (cello); Kathryn Stott (piano) 
