North Netherlands Orchestra and Truls Mørk: Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1

Name: North Netherlands Orchestra and Truls Mørk: Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1
Start: 2027-01-22T20:15:00+01:00
End: 2027-01-22T22:15:00+01:00
Location: De Oosterpoort

Fri, 22 Jan 2027 · 20:15

De Oosterpoort, Groningen

classical culture

The North Netherlands Orchestra performs Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1, with Truls Mørk as soloist. The programme combines Eastern fairy tales with sharp edges.

Noord Nederlands Orkest — also plays in other cities (28)

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About: Truls Mørk

Truls Mørk is a Norwegian cellist widely regarded as one of the finest soloists of his generation. He performs regularly with major orchestras across the world and is known for his expressive, deeply considered playing. His recording of the Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 with the Oslo Philharmonic is among his most celebrated.

About: Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1

Written to measure for Rostropovich - who learned it in four days and unveiled it in Leningrad in 1959 - this concerto pairs biting irony with dark lyricism and a virtuosic cadenza at its core, making it one of the twentieth century's most layered works for cello and orchestra.

60+

recordings in the catalog

~28

minutes playing time (average)

What's new

2025-04
Yo-Yo Ma released a new recording of both cello concertos by Shostakovich on April 25, 2025 with Deutsche Grammophon, recorded with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Andris Nelsons - on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the composer's death.
2025-04
Yo-Yo Ma and the Boston Symphony Orchestra performed Cello Concerto No. 1 live in Boston (April 11, sold out) and in Carnegie Hall, New York (April 24, 2025).
2026-10
Cellist Truls Mørk performs Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1 on October 15, 2026 with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra.

Tracks

Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 107 - I. AllegrettoOpening section with the obsessive four-note motif, related to Shostakovich's musical initials

Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 107 - II. ModeratoLyrical slow section with echoes of Mussorgsky

Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 107 - III. CadenzaExtended solo cadenza as an independent section - a unique feature in concerto history

Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 107 - IV. Allegro con motoFinale with sarcastic references to the Georgian song 'Suleiko', reportedly Stalin's favorite melody

North Netherlands Orchestra and Truls Mørk: Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1

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