Its world premiere was performed by Rostropovich and the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Hugh Wolff on 24 June 1992.
Panufnik described some of his inspiration for the work in the score program notes, remarking, "As in my past works, a certain internalised vision of geometric proportions gave me the structure for the whole composition - this time the mandorla, the palindromic almond-shaped figure in the centre of two equal, overlapping circles, which I have often observed woven into the designs of ancient religious art and architecture.
[1] Reviewing a recording made from the world premiere, Arnold Whittall of Gramophone wrote, "Panufnik's music never lacks certainty of purpose.
There can be a shortage of memorable ideas, but in this concerto strength of feeling, and mastery of form and texture, show him at his most convincing.
He reflected, "There is darkness also in the Cello Concerto, Panufnik's last composition, written for Rostropovich; indeed, it seems to emerge from the Stygian gloom, only gradually assuming presence, but it is also a work of aspiration, the solo line climbing ever higher, like a tendril searching for the light.