Saint-Saens: Works for Cello and Orchestra

Schwabe, Gabriel;
Malmö Symphony Orchestra;
Soustrot, Marc

8.573737

…if you want the most of Saint-Säens’ music for cello and orchestra, excellently played and recorded, in one handy package, then this is the disc for you. It’s wholly delightful.

Gabriel Schwabe is a fearless soloist, with technique to burn in the two concertos—especially the treacherous finale of the Second—and a very attractive cantabile tone in lyrical passages. He’s ideally accompanied by Marc Soustrot and the Malmö orchestra, while the Naxos engineers provide excellent balances in a naturally warm and clear acoustic space.

The real find, though, for most listeners will be the Suite in D minor, an early work that the composer orchestrated in 1919 from its cello and piano original. Its five movements chart a chronological progression from the baroque Sarabande and Gavotte to the romantic Romance and concluding Tarantella. The opening prelude is pure Bach for solo cello, except that Saint-Saëns makes a witty point out of the necessity of giving the orchestra something to do. It’s lovely and charming by turns, but then so is the entire program. An effortlessly collectable release, for sure. • © 2018 ClassicsToday.com

CD

Muzyka klasyczna

Naxos

02-10-2017

0747313373772

Fanfare: 'Want List' (2018)

Gramophone: 'Gramophone Choice' (2018)