In March, Des Moines Symphony cellist George Work performed Ibert’s Concerto for Cello and Winds with the Baton Rouge Symphony at Louisiana State University as part of the orchestra’s chamber music series. The Advocate described Work as possessing “luxuriously deep cello tones.”

The concert was in conjunction with a recording project for a release on Sono Luminus records, which also produces the Ames Piano Quartet CDs (Work and Des Moines Symphony concertmaster Jonathan Sturm are both Ames Piano Quartet members). The recording will also include two other concertos performed by two of Works’ colleagues.

“The project came about as a result of an idea that my friend John Gilbert (professor of violin at Texas Tech University and concertmaster of the Lubbock Symphony) and I had to record string concertos that feature wind ensemble, rather than full orchestra,” Work wrote in an email.

“It was a very exciting week. Baton Rouge at this time of year is beautiful, and the food is marvelous, featuring many of the same types of dishes as New Orleans (lots of great Cajun cooking). The orchestra sounded great, but it was still quite the whirlwind preparation … It was quite a different experience than recording with the Ames Quartet — the larger ensemble, and working under pressure of the clock. But all seemed to turn out well,” Work said.

Stay tuned — the Des Moines Symphony will sell this CD at dmsymphony.org once it’s available for purchase.