Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra in B minor op. 104

Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104, isundoubtedly one of the mostpopular works from the worldwide cello repertoire, and it is the lastcomposition by Dvorak (1841-1904) written in America during his three-year stay when he workedas thedirector of the National Conservatory of Music in New York (1892-1895). Thecomposerwas not particularly fond of the cello as a solo instrument because he wasconvinced itcould only sound wonderful in the orchestra or chamber ensemble, since only itsmiddlepitch was refined (as he once commented: 'up there it mumbles and down there itrumbles'),yet it is interesting to note that he wrote this concerto for the cello, apiece sincerely andunreservedly admired by artists and audiences the world over.

This title is a critical edition based on the composer's manuscript and is part of the first Complete Critical Edition of Works by Antonin Dvorak. Only exceptionally does this edition use a more modern methodof cello notation for direct transition from bass to treble clefs - in these cases the cello sounds the way it is written. For this edition the composer's adaptation for piano was supplemented and revised by Karel Solc. The violoncello part is published in are visionby Ladislav Zelenka, former member of the famous Bohemian Quartet.