Classical Music | Cello Music

Recorded on 09/28/2010, uploaded on 09/28/2010

Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Jan Valta (1977): Fulcanelli -- Sinfonia concertante for cello and symphony orchestra Movement I  world premiere,
Krystof Lecian-violoncello solo, Jan Valta- conductor, Pilsner Philharmonic Orchestra,

1st movement



Our story takes place in the city of Prague. A young man meets an alchemist. For some curious reason, the alchemist offers the young man an opportunity to work with him and to become his apprentice. The alchemist promises that he'll guide the young man forward, to achieve the most precious thing the universe has to offer a man - The Philosopher's Stone. Its power, can turn all lesser metals into gold, the most precious of all metals and to perfect all imperfect bodies through immortality. Thus, this "Magnum Opus" gives its bearer infinite wealth and life.



But, at the same time, the young man meets a girl. Though he is aware that the Philosopher's Stone needs the full concentration of a man and working on it is incompatible with human love, he falls in love with this girl. He hesitates between choosing a path as he is aware that he can only choose one of them.



One day, the girl tells the young man that they are going to have a child. The young man feels he would have regrets for the rest of his life if he missed this opportunity with the alchemist. The young man's pre-occupation with the Philosopher's Stone prevails his love and he abandons the girl to become the alchemist's apprentice. At the same moment he is entering the alchemist's house, we see the girl, standing at the entrance gate of the hospital.



Important musical themes:

beginning - theme of the alchemist

2:02 - theme of the young man

3:11 - theme of the girl (of love)

4:47 - theme of the child

10:00 - motif of temptation (of longing for wealth and immortality)

18:03 - motif of destiny