Raphaela Gromes, Klengel, Schumann: Romantic Cello Concertos Review

Raphaela Gromes is a cellist whose first recordings were done with her longtime piano partner Julian Riem and released on the Farao Music label in 2014. Since 2016, she has joined SONY Classical as an exclusive artist. In September 2018, her first SONY-CD of the works of the late Romantic composers Giuseppe Martucci, Leone Sinigaglia, Ferrucio B. Busoni, and Mario Castelnuovo, that she recorded with her partner Julian Riem, was released. Various composers have dedicated cello concertos to Gromes: the world premiere of Dominik Giesriegel’s cello concerto in 2012 was followed by Valentin Bachmann’s cello concerto performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra Budweis conducted by David Svec. The third world premiere, the double concerto “Chroma” that Mario Bürki had written for Raphaela Gromes and Cécile Grüebler in 2014, brought her into contact with the Swiss military orchestra.

Further on, she collaborated with Kent Nagano and the Czech Philharmonic and Christoph Altstaedt and the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn. Gromes was invited to the Jungfrau Music Festival Interlaken, the Vorsprung Festival of the “Audi Summer Concerts” in Ingolstadt, the Munich Opera Festival, the Marvão International Music Festival, the Mondsee Musiktage Festival, and the Edinburgh International Festival. In addition to her career as a soloist, she is also devoted to chamber music. Her chamber music partners are, amongst others Christian Altenburger, Isabelle von Keulen, Alexander Lubimov, Patrick Demenga, and Mischa Maisky. Together with her duo partner, the pianist Julian Riem, she regularly gives concerts throughout Germany and abroad. Gromes acts internationally as SOS Children’s Villages Ambassador. Gromes’ cello is a Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume instrument of 1855 that is provided by a private benefactor. Gromes new album Klengel, Schumann: Romantic Cello Concertos, was released on October 2, 2020. The album was recorded with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin conducted by Nicholas Carter. Julian Riem joins Gromes on several selections from Schumann.

Bottom Line:  Klengel, Schumann: Romantic Cello Concertos builds on the historic cello reputation for playing lyrical romantic melodies. With a virtuoso like Gromes, the warmth and timbre of the instrument are even more harmonious. However, in the nineteenth century, the piano and violin dominated Romantic chamber music, and only a handful of cello concertos reached the celebrated level as other instrument concertos in the repertoire. Gromes is rediscovering many exciting Romantic cello concertos. Julius Klengel’s Third Cello Concerto is making its world premiere on this recording and will start the cannon to elevate this gem to be a part of the standard repertoire. Cello Concerto No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 31: “I. Allegro non troppo” opens with a Romantic arching melody performed by the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin under the direction of Nicholas Carter. When Gromes enters with the solo melody, her tone and control are instantly noticeable. Her use of dynamics and her fast vibrato that ends various passages are flowing and Romantic. The cello’s vast range is used throughout the movement, and Bromes executes the technical passages with finesse and character. Richard Strauss’ Romanze for Cello and Orchestra in F Major, TrV 118, Op. 13: “Andante cantabile” was written when he was just nineteen years of age. The focus of this movement is the cantablile melody in the cello with the interesting orchestral framework around it. Gromes’ makes her part stunningly beautiful. Clara Wiek-Schumann’s Romaze from the Piano Concerto in A Minor, op. 7, is an emotional highlight. With just piano and cello filling the space, one can really appreciate the power, lyricism, and absolute control Gromes performs with at all times. Overall, this is a stunning collection of accessible Romantic music performed to perfection. That’s the short of it!

Connect with Raphaela Gromes: Website |