The new double album “Fortissima” by cellist Raphaela Gromes with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin under the direction of Anna Rakitina and with Julian Riem at the piano is a captivating collection of many first recordings.

Part 1 of “Fortissima” combines cello sonatas by Henriëtte Bosmans, Emilie Mayer and Luise Adolpha Le Beau with shorter works by Mel Bonis, Victoria Yagling and Adele. In the second part, the stage opens up for the orchestra. The focus is on major works such as the almost forgotten cello concerto by the German-Jewish composer Maria Herz, which was deprived of its premiere and due recognition in Germany during the National Socialist era. There will also be a world premiere recording of a ballad for cello and orchestra by Elisabeth Kuyper. Further highlights: Probably the first cello concerto by a woman by Saint-Saëns‘ pupil Marie Jaëll, whose underestimated talent was already described by Franz Liszt in a letter as follows: “A man’s name above your music and it would be on all pianos”. Rebecca Dale’s orchestral works Fortissima and Mediation, on the other hand, were even written especially for Gromes.