Ofra Harnoy – Elgar & Lalo Cello Concertos (2023) [FLAC 24bit/44,1kHz]

Ofra Harnoy – Elgar & Lalo Cello Concertos (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 57:42 minutes | 555 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Masterworks

In April of 1996, Ofra Harnoy entered the venerable Abbey Road Studios in London with the London Philharmonic Orchestra to record Edward Elgar’s great cello concerto. Unfortunately, shortly after this event, the end result did not end up where it was supposed to be and was not released to the public. In fact, the whereabouts of the recording went unknown for quite some time, afterward.

In early 2022, through some diligent searching, the lost recording was located and will now be released paired with Harnoy’s remastered recording of the Édouard Lalo Cello Concerto, on the Sony Classical label. With the help of session notes from and conversations with recording producer Andrew Keener, the 1996 Abbey Road sessions were edited (Mike Herriott) and mastered (Ron Searles). The result is what will likely be lauded as one of the definitive interpretations of Elgar’s great warhorse for the cello.

Described by the New York Times as “born to the instrument”, Ofra Harnoy brings her unmatched passion and virtuoso to Elgar’s masterpiece and final notable composition. Very much influenced by Jacqueline Du Pré’s 1965 recording, and the rare opportunity afforded her to study the work with Ms. Du Pré, in masterclass, Harnoy’s own voice comes to the fore to capture Elgar’s own anguish and heartbreak.This is not a new recording by cellist Ofra Harnoy; the performances are from 1995 (the Lalo concerto) and 1996 (Elgar), and intended for release on RCA. Her contract with that label was drawing to an end, and the recording of the Elgar, unbelievably, was lost. It took until 2022 to locate it, and it was paired with the re-released Lalo concerto for a 2023 release on Sony Classical. The timing was excellent, as Harnoy had just emerged from a long recording silence with a new Bach recording on a different label. This release will make listeners remember why they made such a fuss over Harnoy in the first place. She was inspired by the great Jacqueline du Pré, who had the Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, as one of her trademark works, and the Elgar here is an extraordinarily warm and lyrical performance, with the London Philharmonic under conductor George Pehlivanian matching the inner rhythms of Harnoy’s playing. The Cello Concerto in D minor of Édouard Lalo was recorded with a different orchestra, the Bournemouth Symphony under Antonio de Almeida. There is quite a sonic lurch between the two performances, and the Lalo in general is not on the level of the Elgar; the work needs a mixture of gutsy drama and charm that Harnoy does not quite provide. The performance of Elgar’s much-recorded concerto, however, makes this album well worth the listener’s time and money. – James Manheim

Tracklist:

01. Ofra Harnoy – I. Adagio – Moderato (07:40)
02. Ofra Harnoy – II. Lento – Allegro molto (04:49)
03. Ofra Harnoy – III. Adagio (04:12)
04. Ofra Harnoy – IV. Allegro – Moderato – Allegro, ma non-troppo – Poco più lento – Adagio (11:48)
05. Ofra Harnoy – I. Prelude. Lento – Allegro maestoso (14:14)
06. Ofra Harnoy – II. Intermezzo. Andantino con moto – Allegro presto (06:51)
07. Ofra Harnoy – III. Introduction. Andante – Allegro vivace (08:05)

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