CD of the week: Sol Gabetta - Elgar Cello Concerto

21 June: CD of the Week is Argentine cellist Sol Gabetta's new recording of the Elgar Cello Concerto.

The award-winning cellist Sol Gabetta has produced a couple of CDs in recent years, focusing on light, playful melodies which are always performed with wit and panache. But for her next release, she’s tackling a real warhorse of the repertoire: Elgar’s famous Cello Concerto. So, does she pull off the performance?

The answer is a resounding yes: gritty, emotional and full of soul, this is outstanding playing, with taut accompaniment from the Danish National Radio Orchestra under conductor Mario Venzago. And the fact that the concerto was recorded live in concert adds another exciting dimension to the performance.

Also included on this CD are three Elgar miniatures, Dvorak’s Silent Woods, and a delightful theme and variations by Respighi.