Carl Davis on Ballade:

I based my Ballade on the brief synopsis Fauré had used for his Poème d'un jour: a couple meet, swear eternal love and part. As a teenager I thought, "How cool!" The Ballade follows this tale in 5 linked sections: the 1st - searching; the 2nd - restless; the 3rd - a love scene, ending in a minor key; the 4th - stern, passionate; and finally, life carries on.

The brilliant cellist Jonathan Aasgaard, principal of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, asked me to compose a work for him after performing my score for Garbo's sensual silent film Flesh and the Devil and the RLPO commissioned it. Thanks to you both.

This is a premier recording of Carl Davis’ Ballade for cello and orchestra