description Bloch Schelomo Overview
Schelomo is a work for solo cello and orchestra by Swiss-born American composer Ernest Bloch, completed in 1916 and subtitled "Rhapsodie Hebraique." The title refers to Solomon, and Bloch described the cello as the voice of the biblical king while the orchestra represents the surrounding world and its conflicting voices. Its rhapsodic form, expressive solo writing, and large orchestral palette have made it a regularly performed part of the twentieth-century cello repertoire.
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Bloch Schelomo ranks #12 of 85 in the Cello Concerto ranking, behind Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 2 in G major Op. 126, ahead of Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante in E minor Op. 125.
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What does the cello represent in Bloch's Schelomo?
Bloch described the solo cello as the voice of King Solomon, or Schelomo. The orchestra acts as the surrounding world, answering, challenging, and sometimes overwhelming that solitary voice.
Is Schelomo technically a cello concerto?
It is often programmed like a concerto, but Bloch called it a "Rhapsodie Hébraïque" for cello and orchestra. Its continuous dramatic argument is freer than the usual three-movement concerto structure.
When was Schelomo composed and premiered?
Bloch completed the work in 1916 as part of the group commonly called his Jewish Cycle. It received its premiere in New York in 1917, with Hans Kindler as soloist.
Which recordings are useful for learning Schelomo?
Recordings by cellists such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Leonard Rose, and Mischa Maisky reveal very different balances between lament, declamation, and orchestral weight. The piece also pairs naturally with Bloch's shorter cello work Voice in the Wilderness.
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