Search - Richard Harwood, Christoph Berner :: Cello Recital - Richard Harwood

All cello hogs to the trough!

George B. Clifford IV | Chicago, IL USA | 09/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another winner in EMI Classics 'Debut' series that aims to present rising stars in top-tier productions, this cello with piano recital emphatically proclaims that EMI resources (producer John Fraser and engineer Arne Akselberg, no less) have again not been squandered. Harwood and Berner make for a winning duo throughout a unique and delightful program, deftly mixing fire and drama with sweetness and heartache. Harwood's keen ability to highlight beauty and emotion without losing forward momentum in the musical line belies his youthful image while offering firm testimony to years spent toiling in the trenches, first as a child prodigy then through lower rank assignments and the usual competitions. A few awkward moments aside in the opening movement to Beethoven's Sonata Op 69, his performance is muscular, assured, and direct. Christoph Berner proves to be a real gem as accompanist, providing superior, simpatico support and quite able to take the lead where necessary. Kudos to Arne Akselberg for ideal sonics, allowing the listener to luxuriate in Harwood's incredibly rich, refulgent tone. Berner's piano is also presented to best advantage in the nicely balanced acoustic. As is so often the case these days, the artist wrote the sincere, if somewaht stilted, liner notes. All in all, the most enjoyable cello disc of the last year, fully competitive with more famous stable mate Natalie Clein's recent tour of Chopin and Rachmaninov."