Mieczyslaw Weinberg flourished as a composer despite working amidst political and personal setbacks. He gained the admiration of Shostakovich, and was championed by the leading Soviet musicians of the day. The soulful Cello Concertino with it's Yiddish overtones and melodic eloquence was discovered posthumously, and is effectively a preliminary version of the more elaborate and intense Cello Concerto. The potent Romantic nature of the Concerto has made this one of Weinberg's most performed largescale pieces. The Fantasia is an appealing early work - expressive and spontaneous. The orchestral piece Polish Melodies, Op. 47, No. 2 recorded during the sessions for this album is available to download and stream (Naxos 9.70381).
