Cellist Pablo Ferrández's New Album, "Moonlight Variations"

Released on Sony Classical, the release features Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Cellist Pablo Ferrández has released his newest album on Sony Classical, Moonlight Variations. The album realizes his 20-year dream to record Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33.

Pablo combines the Rococo Variations with melancholy nocturnes by Debussy, Schubert, Chopin, and more. He described the theme of the album as "night followed by day."

"I feel more creative at night," shared Pablo. "I’m not alone in that. So many composers have written special music connected to this time. They all felt a difference in the world once the sun had gone down."

To purchase and listen to the album, click here.

For the concept of the night, Pablo presents 11 works by composers from Antonín Dvořák to Manuel Ponce that highlight the intimacy of the night. These works include Liszt’s Liebestraum and Schumann’s Kinderszenen, transcriptions of piano nocturnes by Chopin and songs by Schubert and Debussy. Pianist Julien Quentin joins him for the piano and cello works in this album, whom Pablo describes as "a great musician and a great friend."

Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme was recorded in Örebro with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Martin Fröst. The album also includes two additional works by Tchaikovsky, including Pablo's arrangement for cello and orchestra of his ‘Nocturne’ from 6 Pieces for Piano.

"We made a decision to make our arrangements true to the instrument I’m playing while not removing the piece from its original concept," shared Pablo. "The idea was to give each piece a personality of its own that suits the cello. I was thinking, of course, of singing - of that more human kind of expression. One reason I love to play lieder is that we always try to sing through the cello."