Sibelius Theme and Variations for Solo Cello (1887)

Brinton Averil Smith, cellist. The North American debut of Jean Sibelius 1887 Theme and Variations for Solo Cello, the first concert work for solo cello by a major composer since the Bach Suites. Rediscovered in 1995, the work is still unpublished and has had only a handful of public performances. From a faculty recital at Rice s Shepherd School of Music on 3, 15, 10. Other works on the program included solo cello works by Reger, Bloch, Rozsa, Ysaye, Cassado and transcriptions for solo cello of works by Pag