With his rich but clean tone and strong but fluent technique, it's clear that English cellist Richard Harwood spent time in Vienna studying with the great Heinrich Schiff. Restrained but deeply expressive, intelligent but profoundly soulful, virtuosic but less concerned with showing off his talent than with delving into the music, Harwood is imbued with the spirit of the central European tradition of selfless music-making. This approach works exceptionally well in his performance of Beethoven's A major Cello Sonata that ...
Read More
With his rich but clean tone and strong but fluent technique, it's clear that English cellist Richard Harwood spent time in Vienna studying with the great Heinrich Schiff. Restrained but deeply expressive, intelligent but profoundly soulful, virtuosic but less concerned with showing off his talent than with delving into the music, Harwood is imbued with the spirit of the central European tradition of selfless music-making. This approach works exceptionally well in his performance of Beethoven's A major Cello Sonata that opens the disc. The long-lined lyricism of his opening Allegro ma non tanto and Adagio cantabile along with the irresistible energy of his Allegro molto Scherzo and Allegro vivace finale ideally captures the piece's Janus-faced tone. The approach works almost as well in his performance of Chopin's Cello Sonata that closes the disc, which captures the work's aristocratic passion in flowing tempos and impulsive phrasing. The approach works less well in his performances of the four...
Read Less
Portions of content provided by Rovi Corporation. © 2024 Rovi Corporation.