Penguin Guide to CDs Yearbook 2000/1

Cello Moods Review

Massenet ‘Meditation’

‘Cello moods’(with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, James Judd): FRANCK: Panis angelicus.

ELGAR: Chanson de matin; Salut d’amour. Julian LLOYD WEBBER: Jackie’s song. DEBUSSY: Reverie. BACH: Suite No 3: Air.

MASSENET: Thals: Meditation. CACCINI: Ave Maria. B0RODIN: Nocturne. GLAZUNOV: Mélodie, Op. 20/1.

CHOPIN: Nocturne, Op. 9/2. BOCCHERINI: Cello concerto: Adagio. RHEINBERGER: Cantilena. BRUCH: Kol Nidrei.

*** Ph. Dig. 462 588-2 [id.1]

Decorated with extraordinary artwork by Jane Powell, which shows an unclothed cellist, covered only with shadowy music staves (the cello hiding any suggestion of immodesty), this collection of lollipops is obviously aimed at the cross-over market. The playing is of high quality, with none of these famous tunes sentimentalized. Franck’s Pants angelicus and Massenet’s Meditation here sound almost noble on the cello. The other highlights are the charming Glazunov Melodie, the Rheinberger Cantilena, and the very eloquent Max Bruch Kol Nidei. If you enjoy this kind of programme it couldn’t be played better or recorded.