Composer: Georges Bizet, Joseph Canteloube, Clémont Philibert Léo Delibes, Gabriel Urbain Fauré, Charles François Gounod, Reynaldo Hahn, Francis López, Jacques Offenbach, Gioacchino Antonio Rossini, Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky, Ambroise Thomas
Performer: Sol Gabetta
Orchestra: City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Charles Olivieri-Munroe
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: RCA
Catalogue: 88697359622
Release: 2009
Size: 230 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
01. Gounod: Ah! Je veux vivre dans ce rêve (from Roméo et Juliette)
02. Offenbach: Promptes à servir (La Périchole)
03. Offenbach: La Périchole, IJO 64: O mon cher amant, je te jure (Arr. for Cello and Orchestra)
04. Bizet: Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante (Carmen)
05. Bizet: Carmen: Près des remparts de Séville (Arr. for Cello and Orchestra)
06. Delibes: Les filles de Cadix
07. Thomas: Connais-tu le pays (Mignon)
08. Tchaikovsky: Kuda, Kuda ‘Lensky’s Aria’ (from Eugene Onegin)
09. Tchaikovsky: None but the lonely heart, Op. 6 No. 6
10. Canteloube: Chants d’Auvergne: Berceuse (Arr. for Cello and Orchestra)
11. Hahn: A Chloris
12. Fauré: Pavane, Op. 50
13. López: L’amour est un bouquet de violettes
14. Rossini: Largo al factotum (from Il barbiere di Siviglia)
Hot on the heels of her recent Shostakovich release, Argentinian cellist Sol Gabetta exploits her incredibly warn, rich tone in this programme of attractive arrangements of popular classical works.
For this album, Argentine cellist Sol Gabetta has chosen a program of arrangements of vocal music, the majority of which come from French opera. The result is a pleasant if plain recital. Most of the selections are straight transcriptions in which the cello simply plays the vocal line, accompanied by orchestra. Gabetta’s playing is warmly lyrical but unexceptional, and not much personality or interpretive originality comes across. Even a showstopper like the Seguidilla from Carmen, which ought to be an opportunity for flamboyant display (and it’s certainly treated that way by the singers) is blandly straightforward. The Prague Philharmonic, led by Charles Olivieri-Munroe, offers a supportive accompaniment. The piece that’s the most fun is an arrangement of Largo al factotum from Il barbiere di Siviglia, made by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco for cello and piano. It is quite a departure from Rossini and is full of zany surprises, allowing Gabetta to display some virtuosity. The album is most likely to be of interest to listeners looking for mellow, restful selections that could be used as background music.