Berio: Ritorno degli snovidenia for cello and orchestra, for cello and orchestra

Commissioned by Paul Sacher for Mstislav Rostropovich and the Basel Chamber Orchestra, the piece deals with the meeting of a West-European, left-wing intellectual’s idealistic notions about the Revolution and a Soviet artist’s first-hand, personal experiences. As Berio realised, the snovidenia, i.e. the composer’s dreams, are destroyed by the people, by Stalinism.

The cello concerto works with three fragments of revolutionary songs, the solo instrument playing an endless melody, developing tremendous tension from beginning to end with the ensemble’s help. Two short, unexpected crescendi form the climaxes, while the tension comes close to exploding.