Take a Bow: CD

‘Take a Bow’ is the brand new personally selected retrospective collection from Julian Lloyd Webber, released by Decca Classics to mark the British cellist’s 75th birthday. The celebratory double album features a new composition by Lloyd Webber for cello and orchestra, titled ‘Jasmine’, and named after his daughter, alongside recordings from his catalogue stretching back over 40 years. ‘Jasmine’ marks a return to the recording studio for the first time in 12 years.
 
The album and new music coincide with the release of his autobiography, ‘Bows and Arrows’ (Biteback Publishing) and a return to the concert platform – again, for the first time in 12 years – with Lloyd Webber hosting and expecting to perform in a special birthday concert on 14 April at London’s Wigmore Hall, in aid of music education charity Music Masters.
 
Recording and performing in the concert hall once again follows Lloyd Webber’s forced retirement in April 2014 due to injury. ‘Jasmine’, composed and performed by Lloyd Webber, accompanied by the award-winning Orchestra of the Swan, has strong personal and emotional meaning for the cellist, and was the impetus needed for him to pick up the cello and confront the challenge of playing again.

CD1

1. J. Lloyd Webber: Jasmine (Version for Cello & Orchestra) - With Orchestra of the Swan
2. Elgar: Salut d'amour, Op. 12 (Arr. Cullen for Cello & Orchestra)- With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, James Judd (conductor)
3. Gounod, J.S. Bach: Ave Maria, CG 89a- With English Chamber Orchestra, Nicholas Cleobury (conductor)
4. Vavilov: Ave Maria (Arr. Cullen for Cello & Orchestra) -With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, James Judd (conductor
5. Debussy: Rêverie, CD 76 (Arr. Cullen for Cello & Orchestra)- With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, James Judd (conductor)
6. Duo - With Secret Garden
7. Albinoni, Giazotto: Adagio in G Minor (Arr. Palmer for Cello & Orchestra) - With English Chamber Orchestra, Nicholas Cleobury (conductor)
8. Massenet: Méditation de Thaïs (Arr. Cullen for Cello & Orchestra) - With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, James Judd (conductor)
9. J.S. Bach: Air on the G String (Arr. Cullen for Cello & Orchestra) - With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, James Judd (conductor)
10. Vangelis: Un après-midi (Arr. Palmer Cello & Synthesizer) - With Vangelis (Synthesizer)
11. Lloyd Webber: Memory (Arr. Cullen for Cello, Synthesizer & Orchestra) - From "Cats” - With David Cullen (Synthesizer), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth (Conductor)
12. Borodin: Nocturne (Arr. Cullen for Solo Cello & Strings from Quartet No. 2) - With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, James Judd (Conductor)
13. Lloyd Webber: Variations 1-4 [Variations] - With Rod Argent (Piano, Synthesizer), Jon Hiseman (Drums), Paul Keogh (Guitar), John Mole (Bass Guitar), Barbara Thompson (Flute), Barbara Thompson (Saxophone), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth (Conductor)
14. Lloyd Webber: Music Of The Night [The Phantom Of The Opera] - With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth (Conductor)
15. Lloyd Webber: Pie Jesu [Requiem] - With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Barry Wordsworth (Conductor)
16. Elgar: Chanson de Matin, Op. 15 No. 2 (Arr. Cullen for Cello and Orchestra) - With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), James Judd (Conductor)
17. Saint-Saëns: XIII. Le cygne (Arr. Palmer for Cello & Orchestra) [Le carnaval des animaux, R. 125] - With English Chamber Orchestra, Nicholas Cleobury (Conductor)
18. The Girl from Ipanema - With Bossa Nova
19. Your Song - (Elton John)

CD2

1. Elgar: I. Adagio – Moderato – [Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85] - With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin (Conductor)
2. Elgar: II. Lento – Allegro molto [Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85] - With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin (Conductor)
3. Elgar: III. Adagio [Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85] - With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin (Conductor)
4. Elgar: IV. Allegro [Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85] - With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin (Conductor)
5. Dvořák: II. Adagio ma non troppo [Cello Concerto in B Minor, B. 191] - With Czech Philharmonic
6. Tchaikovsky: 1. Thema - Moderato assai quasi andante [Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH 57 - Original Tchaikovsky Manuscript - With London Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Shostakovich (Conductor)
7. Tchaikovsky: 2. Thema - Moderato simplice [Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH 57 - Original Tchaikovsky Manuscript] - With London Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Shostakovich (Conductor)
8. Tchaikovsky: 3. Variation I - Tempo della thema [Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH 57 - Original Tchaikovsky Manuscript] - With London Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Shostakovich (Conductor)
9. Tchaikovsky: 4. Variation II - Tempo della thema [Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH 57 - Original Tchaikovsky Manuscript] - With London Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Shostakovich (Conductor)
10. Tchaikovsky: 5. Variation III - Andante [Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH 57 - Original Tchaikovsky Manuscript] - With London Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Shostakovich (Conductor)
11. Tchaikovsky: 6. Variation IV - Allegro vivo [Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH 57 - Original Tchaikovsky Manuscript] - With London Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Shostakovich (Conductor)
12. Tchaikovsky: 7. Variation V - Andante grazioso [Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH 57 - Original Tchaikovsky Manuscript] - With London Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Shostakovich (Conductor)
13. Tchaikovsky: 8. Variation VI - Allegro moderato [Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH 57 - Original Tchaikovsky Manuscript] - With London Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Shostakovich (Conductor)
14. Tchaikovsky: 9. Variation VII - Andante sostenuto [Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH 57 - Original Tchaikovsky Manuscript] - With London Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Shostakovich (Conductor)
15. Tchaikovsky: 10. Variation VIII e coda - Allegro moderato con anima [Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH 57 - Original Tchaikovsky Manuscript] - With London Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Shostakovich (Conductor)
16. Bruch: Kol Nidrei, Op. 47 - With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, James Judd (conductor)
17. Menotti: Arioso for 2 Cellos and Strings - With Jiaxin Cheng