First Prize winner of the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition, Hayoung Choi quickly established herself as one of the most compelling cellists of her generation. Joined by the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and conductor Tomás Netopil, she explores two landmark concertos that reveal the full expressive range of her instrument. Elgar's Cello Concerto, one of the most beloved works in the repertoire, unfolds as a deeply personal farewell, filled with lyricism, nostalgia and quiet resignation. In striking contrast, Lutoslawski's groundbreaking Cello Concerto challenges every convention of the genre, placing the soloist at the heart of a bold and uncompromising musical drama. This album inaugurates a new recording series from the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, created in partnership with laureates of the Queen Elisabeth Competition. Recorded in the exceptional acoustics of the Queen Elisabeth Hall in Antwerp, it celebrates both a remarkable young artist and the enduring legacy of one of the world's most prestigious music competitions.
