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Spanish Encores
Recorded 1999 on EMI Classics |
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Alban Gerhardt, cello
Rina Dokshinsky, piano |
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Astor Piazzolla |
1. |
Le Grand Tango (11:36) |
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Manuel de Falla |
2. |
Danse Espagnole No. 1 (3:49) |
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 RealAudio |
3. |
Pantomimia e Cancion (5:32) |
4. |
Danse Rituelle de Feu (3:29) |
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Enrique Granados |
5. |
Danzas Españolas No. 5 (3:52) |
6. |
Tonadilla No. 1 (2:33) |
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RealAudio |
7. |
Intermezzo (4:35) |
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RealAudio |
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Issac Albéniz |
8. |
Celebre Serenata Espagnolia (3:43) |
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Malagueña (3:43) |
10. |
Tango, Op. 165 No. 2 (2:29) |
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Gaspar Cassadó |
11. |
Sérénade (3:09) |
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Danse du Diable Vert (3:23) |
13. |
La Pendule, La Fileuse et Le Galant (2:08) |
14. |
Lamento de Boabdil (3:28) |
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RealAudio |
15. |
Requiebros (4:51) |
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RealAudio |
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Maurice Ravel |
16. |
Habanera (3:22) |
17. |
Alborada del Gracioso (6:49) |
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RealAudio |
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Playing time: 73 minutes |
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 Alban Gerhardt compiled for his debut cd with EMI a challenging and intelligently conceived program. Gerhardt plays like a true virtuoso, quite hot-blooded with youthful zest. Gerhardt elicits the most colourfully diverse sounds, always warm and with the greatest elegance...  |
| —Remy Franck, Pizzicato, April 1999 |
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| Passionate. Alban Gerhardt presents himself for the first time at EMI with a Spanish program. Especially interesting from the repertoire point of view are the compositions of the Spanish cellist Gaspar Cassado, who wrote highly inpiring for his instrument. Most other pieces are transcriptions. Virtuoso Bravura, a rich sound and a passionate gesture are significant for this interpretation. This is a debut recital at the highest level... I am looking forward to further projects. |
| —Norbert Hornig, Fonoforum, March 1999 |
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| Alban Gerhardt pulled off a thrilling debut with his cd he simply titled 'Music for Cello and Piano'. The young cellist was able to impress already with his recording of Brahms' cello sonatas, so that we are hoping for more releases. The mainly Spanish selection of repertoire enchants with little treasures, almost all well-known compositions in transcription, by de Falla, Granados, Albeniz, Cassado, Piazzolla and Ravel. Alban Gerhardt dedicates this cd to his wife Katalina who is from Puerto Rico. Gerhardt's sound is wonderfully singing, clear, intense, almost too beautiful at first sight. We don't hear edges, much rather a strictly kept, controlled coolness, which holds a strong tension by its subliminal sensuality. Be it de Falla's Danse espagnole No.1 or Granados' Tonadilla No.1 - Gerhardt wins with his slender and never forced sound even from these encore-like pieces something fresh and immediate. |
| —Bettina Gerber, Klassik Heute, November 1999 |
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| With Fire |
| Alban Gerhardt's first release for EMI shows the German cellist with a Spanish program. While the five pieces by Gaspar Cassado and the Grand Tango by Astor Piazzallo are original compositions, single 'number's from Manuel de Fallas succesfull orchestra compositions as well as show-pieces by Ravel and Granados can be heard in transcriptions by famous cellists. The interpretations are really worth listening to. Gerhardt's virtuosity, passion and feeling for sound pricks up our ears... A beautiful recital with interesting and melodious sounding works, which the performer wants to be understood as a declaration of love to his wife, as he mentions in the booklet... |
| —kw, Musik & Theater, November 1999 |
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| What, Tango once more? Well, as burnt out this subject might be: When two artists of the caliber of Alban Gerhardt and Rina Dokshitsky detonate once again Piazzollas's 'Le Grand Tango' we are nevertheless seduced to watch and listen by the magical fireworks. Also for de Falla, Granados, Albeniz, Cassado and Ravel Gerhardt is the very best, what could follow in the generation after Steven Isserlis: a virtuoso of the purest kind, at the same time not at all vain, abandoning himself to the flow of the music, never using funny manirism intended to prove his sensibility. A work of love in every realtion, dedicated to Gerhardt's Puerto Rican wife as well as to his faibless for hispanic music. |
| —Thomas Rübenacker, Scala, Mai 1999 |
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| Alban Gerhardt, born in 1969 in Berlin, New Yorker by choice, made people speak about him at the latest since last year. The cellist fascinated his audience in numerous concerts all over the world. But he also fills us with enthusiasm via sound carrier with his intelligent and virtuoso art of interpretation, always full of emotions. Not at last because of his success with his recording of the Brahms Sonatas beginning of 1998 he was honoured with the ECHO Award in 1998 as 'Newcomer of the Year'. Alban Gerhardt prooves himself worthy of this award with his new hot-tempered release on the EMI Classics Debut series. It holds 17 mainly Spanish encore pieces for cello and piano. Even without a drop of Spanish blood in his veines, Alban Gerhardt loved already the Spanish sounds as a child. To be able to accompany his mother, a singer, at the piano, he collected almost obsessively all Spanish songs he could lay his hands on. Until today he is fascinated by the passion and the discipline of this music. Alban Gerhardt's cello playing evoces exactly this 'held back ocean of emotions' in its most different nuances - for him at the same time homage to his wife, a South American beauty, who inspired him to this recording. 'Le Grand Tango' by Astor Piazzolla as opening piece is being followed by exciting encore pieces by Manuel de Falla, Enrique Granados, Isaac Albeniz, Gaspard Cassado and Maurice Ravel. The listener can have only one wish after the final 'Alborada del gracioso': at least one last encore! But there he will have to wait until the next concert or for a further cd release. Alban Gerhardt is being accompanied by the young Israeli pianist Rina Dokshitksy with whom had had concertised already several times. |
| —Musikmarkt chart&news, October 1999 |
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