Concerto en ré mineur

Édouard Lalo's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra has been published many times by different publishers. These publications present significant differences in articulations, dynamics, rhythms, and sometimes even notes.

It seemed important to us to return to the sources available to us in order to present a text that conforms to the author's thoughts.

The original autograph manuscript is unfortunately lost. The most reliable source is the original edition, published by "Bote & Bock" in Berlin. The full score was published in 1878, followed shortly thereafter by a reduction for cello and piano.

The National Library of France in Paris holds a manuscript that is not in the author's handwriting, although he did jot down two or three remarks. Probably written by a cellist, this source cannot be considered entirely reliable.

As for the Bote & Bock edition, there are significant differences between the full score and the reduction for cello and piano. It is likely that Lalo made corrections after the work's premiere in December 1877 by Adolphe Fischer.

Even between the solo cello part and the piano part, there are sometimes discrepancies.

Our concern in preparing this new edition was to make choices that seemed logical to us, eliminating obvious errors and mentioning, where appropriate, other possible options.

Edouard Lalo, although primarily a violinist, studied cello at the Lille Conservatory. When he says "pull" or "push," he does so knowingly.

The bow strokes we offer in gray are, for the most part, very close to the original. We hope, with this edition, to clarify the text and revive cellists' interest in this magnificent concerto.

Philippe MULLER