Schumann - Cello Concerto [Harrell/ Marriner-The Cleveland Orchestra]This is fast becoming a charming Cello Concerto for me, i think Dvorak reigns supreme, but this is a joy getting to know this, i played this last year during the summer [6th July 2010], and it's becoming quite a favourite, after the Elgar and Dvorak, this triptych makes a fine collection for what's on offer next, and it's good that the Harrell's interpretations are gathered together all on one disc.
Lynn Harrell is American, now 67 years old, he recorded this work in 1981, the front cover is simply gorgeous [by P Ingrand], i take it a filter was used to bring out the strong colours, 60% of the picture consists of a poppy field, nicely weighted, the eye is drawn to the villa, all couched in a summer glow, this is probably the best picture in Decca's Eclipse series.
Well it was the middle slow movement that i liked the best, it's the shortest movement, here it's just under 4 minutes, or roughly 16% of this Concerto, but it's like an oasis that refreshes the other two longer 'droughts' either side!, Harrell makes some heartfelt pleadings in this middle, sadly the tracklisting makes the whole Concerto just one long mammoth single track of over 25 minutes, the slow movement appears at 10:46, and almost out of nowhere brakes are placed on the proceedings, there's a wonderful tune on the cello [11:13-12:06], with accompanying pizzicato strings, very gentle and heartfelt sounds come from the cello, delicate and pleading [13:03-13:54], some of the very best things are within the central section of this these pages, the opening tune of the slow movement reappears [13:56-14:50], of which the movement ends with, there's compassion mixed with sorrowful tears, it's just sheerly beautiful.
Here's Luca Franzetti playing the second movement on YouTube.
