Composition: 1955–6. Revised the ending at Piatigorsky’s request, in 1975. This version remains unperformed, and the original version is generally considered to be preferable.
First Performance: 25 January 1957. Symphony Hall, Boston. Gregor Piatigorsky cello, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch conductor.
Duration: About 29 minutes
Movements:
| I. | Moderato | |
| II. | Allegro appassionato | |
| III. | Theme. Lento — | |
| Variation 1. Con moto — | ||
| Variation 2. Risoluto tempo giusto — Brioso — | ||
| Variation 3. Allegro molto — | ||
| Variation 4. Rapsodicamente — | ||
| Variation 5 — | ||
| Variation 6. Adagio |
Dedication: To Gregor Piatigorsky
Craggs Catalogue Number: C65
Instrumentation: Cello solo, 2 flutes (second doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (second doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets (second doubling bass clarinet), 2 bassoons (second doubling contrabassoon) – 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 percussion (vibraphone, xylophone, suspended cymbal, bass drum) – celesta – harp – strings
Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 627. Autograph manuscript short score of the second and third movements. Also two pages of full orchestral score. 47 pages.
Private collection of Mrs. Daniel B. Dorfman, daughter of Gregor Piatigorsky. Autograph manuscript of the following: full score, short score of the first movement, sketches, correction sheet, solo part, and score of the revised 1975 ending. Full score is dated ‘Forio d’Ischia, Feb.-Oct. 1956’.
Publication: Oxford University Press. Full score, 1957, 019 368120X. Piano/cello score, with cello part, piano reduction by Roy Douglas, 1957, 019 3681218. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Piano/cello score]
Arrangements: Arranged for cello and piano, by Roy Douglas.Publication: Oxford University Press, 1957, 019 3681218. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Piano/cello score]
Recordings:
| Soloist | Orchestra | Conductor | Year | Compact Disc | Timing |
| Gregor Piatigorsky | Boston Symphony Orchestra | Charles Munch | 1957 | BMG 92575 2 | 29’23” |
| Pierre Fournier | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | Sir William Walton | 1959 | BBC Legends 4098-2 | 24’03” |
| Paul Tortelier | London Philharmonic Orchestra | Sir Adrian Boult | 1967 | Suisa INCD 7281 | 25’44” |
| Paul Tortelier | Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra | Paavo Berglund | 1973 | EMI Classics 5 73371 2 | 26’50” |
| Ralph Kirshbaum | Scottish National Orchestra | Sir Alexander Gibson | 1979 | Chandos CHAN 6547 | 32’50” |
| Yo-Yo Ma | London Symphony Orchestra | André Previn | 1985 | CBS Masterworks 39541 | 30’01” |
| Raphael Wallfisch | London Philharmonic | Bryden Thomson | 1991 | Chandos CHAN 8959 | 30’05” |
| Lynn Harrell | City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra | Sir Simon Rattle | 1991 | EMI Classics 7 54572 2 | 29’43” |
| Janos Starker | Philharmonia Orchestra | Leonard Slatkin | 1992 | RCA Victor 09026-61695-2 | 27’09” |
| Robert Cohen | Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra | Andrew Litton | 1993 | London 443 450-2 | 28’36” |
| Julian Lloyd Webber | Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields | Sir Neville Marriner | 1996 | Philips 454 442-2 | 29’44” |
| Tim Hugh | English Northern Philharmonia | Paul Daniel | 1997 | Naxos 8..554325 | 30’31” |
| Mark Kosower | Oregon Symphony | James DePreist | 2005 | Delos DE 3342 | 32’45” |
| Daniel Müller-Schott | Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra | André Previn | 2005 | Orfeo C621 061A | 29’57” |