Britten: Suites for Solo Cello Amalie Stalheim

• Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976): Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72:
• 1 Britten: Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: I. Canto Primo 02:20
• 2 Britten: Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: II. Fuga 03:45
• 3 Britten: Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: III. Lamento 03:05
• 4 Britten: Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: IV. Canto Secondo 01:16
• 5 Britten: Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: V. Serenata 02:06
• 6 Britten: Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: VI. Marcia 03:13
• 7 Britten: Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: VII. Canto terzo 02:11
• 8 Britten: Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: VIII. Bordone 03:00
• 9 Britten: Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: IX. Moto Perpetuo e Canto Quarto 03:20
• Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80:
• 10 Britten: Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80: I. Declamato 04:01
• 11 Britten: Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80: II. Fuga 04:04
• 12 Britten: Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80: III. Scherzo 01:40
• 13 Britten: Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80: IV. Andante lento 05:32
• 14 Britten: Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80: V. Ciaccona 06:38
• Cello Suite No. 3, Op. 87:
• 15 Britten: Cello Suite No. 3, Op. 87: I. Introduzione 02:29
• 16 Britten: Cello Suite No. 3, Op. 87: II. Marcia 01:37
• 17 Britten: Cello Suite No. 3, Op. 87: III. Canto 01:12
• 18 Britten: Cello Suite No. 3, Op. 87: IV. Barcarolla 01:25
• 19 Britten: Cello Suite No. 3, Op. 87: V. Dialogo 01:20
• 20 Britten: Cello Suite No. 3, Op. 87: VI. Fuga 02:29
• 21 Britten: Cello Suite No. 3, Op. 87: VII. Fantastico (recitativo) 01:22
• 22 Britten: Cello Suite No. 3, Op. 87: VIII. Moto Perpetuo 00:55
• 23 Britten: Cello Suite No. 3, Op. 87: IX. Passacaglia 07:44
• Total Runtime 01:06:44

Info zu Britten: Suites for Solo Cello

Benjamin Britten first met cellist Mstislav Rostropovich in 1960 at the London premiere of Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1, sparking a deep friendship that inspired Britten to compose several major cello works for him, including the Cello Sonata (1961), Cello Symphony (1962-63), three Solo Cello Suites (1964, 1967, 1971-74), and Tema "Sacher" (1976). These pieces, influenced by Baroque models, Russian themes, and Rostropovich's virtuosic style, explore the cello's full expressive and technical range. The document also profiles Norwegian cellist Amalie Stalheim (b. 1993), a leading interpreter of both classical and contemporary music, known for commissioning new works, performing with major European orchestras, and founding the Classical Link mentoring program to support young musicians.

Amalie Stalheim, cello

Amalie Stalheim
Born in Bergen in 1993, Amalie Stalheim is recognized as one of Scandinavia’s most exciting and versatile cellists. She has captivated audiences as a soloist with leading orchestras across Europe and beyond, including the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Ankara Presidential Symphony Orchestra, Antalya Symphony Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and the Swedish Radio Orchestra, among many others.

Upcoming highlights in the 2024/25 season include solo performances with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonietta Riga, Antalya Symphony Orchestra, Jönköping Sinfonietta, Nordic Chamber Orchestra, and Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra.

While celebrated for her interpretations of the great classical cello concertos, Stalheim is equally dedicated to contemporary music. Passionate about expanding the cello repertoire, she actively commissions and performs new works by leading composers of our time, including Kaija Saariaho, Lisa Streich, Missy Mazzoli, Britta Byström, Anders Hillborg, Vasco Mendonça, Daniel Kidane, Anna Berg, Tebogo Monnakgotla, Jo David Meyer, Marcus Paus, Lasse Thoresen, and Jostein Stalheim.

Stalheim has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Norwegian Soloist Prize (2021), the Swedish Soloist Prize (2018), and the Ljunggren Competition (2015). She was named a “Rising Star” by BBC Music Magazine (2022) and received the Nicholas A. Firmenich Prize at the Verbier Festival (2015).

Beyond the concert stage, Stalheim is deeply committed to supporting the next generation of musicians. She is the founder of the mentoring program Classical Link, in collaboration with the Bergen International Festival, where young musicians work closely with emerging composers to premiere new works.

From the autumn 2025, Amalie Stalheim is Artist in Residence at the Malmö Academy of Music.

From 2026-2028 she will be the Artist in Residence with Musica Vitae orchestra in Sweden.

Previously, from 2018 to 2020, she was Artist in Residence at the Swedish Radio’s classical music channel P2.

Amalie Stalheim is currently playing a GB Guadagnini 1783 cello, generously lent to her by Dextra Musica in Norway. The cello was previously owned and played by M. Rostropovich.

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