[ Harmonia Mundi / CD ]
Release Date: Friday 27 September 2013
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On the face of it there is little in common between the elegiac song of Elgar's Concerto, the Bohemian nostalgia of Dvorak's exquisite miniatures, and the stylistic exercise of Tchaikovsky revisiting the 18th century. But Jean-Guihen
Queyras sees in this programme 'a fascinating mirror effect', with each composer 'playing on contrasts to elucidate his intentions'. Alongside the great Czech conductor Jiri Belohlavek, he reveals every facet of these Late Romantic works.
Jean-Guihen Queyras, violoncello
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Jiri Belohlavek, conductor
"Technically, the performance is a marvel. The mellow timbre of his 1696 Gioffredo Cappa instrument is a pure joy. But allied to that...there is the sense that Queyras has made this recording through genuine love and perception of the Elgarian language...When it comes to mulling over discs of the year, this one will be a definite front-runner." The Telegraph, 5th September 2013
"Queyras' lack of sentimentality and his sense of drive in the Elgar are very welcome, as is the urgent and ripely idiomatic contribution for an orchestra currently at the top of it game. The Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations has great poise and zest, and as a bonus we are treated to two short pieces by Dvorak...which could scarcely have been done better" Classical Music, September 2013
"the antithesis of the youthful Jacqueline du Pré's firebrand approach. That is not to say that Queyras lacks passion the opening chords are bold and he soars in the opening movement's moderato and the allegro non troppo of the finale. Belohlavek and the BBCSO are idiomatic partners" Sunday Times, 22nd September 2013
"A rich and warm recording with a finely judged balance between orchestra and soloist adds to the excellence, but more important is the high level carefully rehearsed detail in the orchestral parts under Jiri Belohlavek's direction." The Strad, October 2013
"I'm a fervent admirer of French cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, particularly for the incredibly neat, compact and refined quality of his playing, elements that here bring an aura of sophistication and tremendous intellectual integrity to his new recording of the piece, with Jiri Belohlavek and the BBC Symphony Orchestra in immaculately responsive and sympathetic accompaniment" The Herald (Glasgow), 22nd September 2013
"Queyras is a fine cellist, fluent technically and gifted with a flexibility of tone that can range from a warm richness to a resiny tang and to sweetness in the upper registers into which both Dvorak and Elgar take him." International Record Review, October 2013
Dvorak:
Waldesruhe (Silent woods) for cello and orchestra, Op. 68 No. 5
Rondo in G minor for cello & orchestra, Op. 94, B. 181
Elgar:
Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85