Othmar Schoeck

During a career that spanned nearly five decades, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau established himself as one of the most accomplished performing artists of the twentieth century. He is widely considered to have been the finest modern interpreter of German lieder, and his extensive operatic career was noted for fine musicianship and powerful characterization. He has also made important contributions as an author, conductor, and teacher.

The young Swiss cellist Christian Poltéra released three remarkable discs of Swiss modernist music in 2007. First came Othmar Schoeck's concerto and sonata for cello plus four song transcriptions for cello and piano. Then came Arthur Honegger's concerto and sonata for cello plus two sonatines. And last there was this one, Frank Martin's concerto and ballade for cello and 8 Preludes for orchestra.

The suite is in three movements the first and last of which has flashing woodwind in the style of Bach's second suite for orchestra with its prominent role for flickering solo flute. Bachian lightness and Regerian lumber meet and for the most part settle in favour of the lighter hand. The contrasting central largo is rather modern in style. The substantial Serenade in G Major is for full orchestra. Its first movement boasts memorably satiny strings. The style? Well, if Brahms 1 was spoken of by some as Beethoven's 10th symphony then this is Brahms' Third Serenade. A contented Beethovenian allegro.