Dvořák - Cello Concerto (cadenza by Wihan)

A curiosity more than anything, Hanuš Wihan’s cadenza to Dvořák’s legendary Cello Concerto can best be described as a fantasy on themes from the concerto. Wihan proposed inserting this cadenza before the final orchestral tutti at rehearsal number 15, but Dvořák ultimately rejected it. At best, the cadenza is anticlimactic in relation to the concerto. At worst, it detracts from the work’s beautifully crafted musical argument.

Several things can still be gleaned from studying the cadenza. Wihan’s virtuosic abilities are presented unequivocally, especially in the final passage of trills in octaves. The cadenza may also be performed as a standalone recital piece or used as a thematic demonstration related to the concerto. Finally, this cadenza preserves the pitches and rhythms that Wihan preferred in the second movement of the concerto, mm. 107-116, a passage sometimes debated among cellists.

This edition of the cadenza is the first of its kind. We thank the Bohuš Heran estate for making this manuscript in Wihan’s hand available for our use.

ASTA level: 6