 |
Nielsen • Barber
Recorded on Amati |
|
|
|
| |
Alban Gerhardt, cello
Carlos Kalmer, conductor
Jeunesses Musicales Weltorchester |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Carl Nielsen |
| |
Simphony No. 4, Op. 29 |
| 1. |
Allegro, attacca (13:05) |
| 2. |
Poco Allegretto, attacca (4:43) |
| 3. |
Poco Adagio, attaca (11:07) |
| 4. |
Allegro (9:14) |
| |
|
| |
Samuel Barber |
| |
Cello Concerto, Op. 22 |
| 5. |
Allegro moderato (11:38) |
| 6. |
Andante sostenuto (6:45) |
| 7. |
Molto allegro e appassionato (3:30) |
| |
|
| |
Playing time: 60 minutes |
|
| |
|
| |
 ...Given the gloriously lyrical and accessible nature of this work coupled with the lashings of melancholic melodies, it is surprising that Barber's Cello Concerto isn't established in the mainstream repertoire. Written in 1945-6 for Raya Garbousova it is legendary for its technical awkwardness, which no doubt explains its rare visits to the concert platform. Leonard Rose described it as the most difficult concerto he had ever played and many passages certainly sound uncomfortable. Following several early performances Barber made a revised edition to accommodate some balance problems and it is this version which is recorded here, with relatively lean woodwind and brass. Despite the awesome nature of the technical hurdles, Alban Gerhardt produces a stunningly brilliant rendition of the work and meets its challenges with ease. The orchestral backing offers a real sense of partnership, eliciting the sort of dialogue you get in the best chamber music. It's not just the technical accomplishment in this recording which is impressive, however. The overtly lyrical mood is eloquently conveyed and the Prokofiev-influenced finale is delivered with interpretative power... 
|
| —The Strad Magazine, February 2003 |
|
|
|
