Alban Gerhardt: Dvořák, Elgar

The Strad Issue: September 2026

Description: Exceptional finesse doesn’t mitigate sometimes rushed readings

Musicians: Alban Gerhardt (cello) WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln/Andrew Manze

Works: Dvořák: Cello Concerto. Elgar: Cello Concerto

Catalogue number: HYPERION CDA68486

The mantra of both Alban Gerhardt and Andrew Manze in this warmly recorded coupling of the two blockbusters of the cello concerto repertoire is to go back to the score and offer less indulgent interpretations than many other artists. In the case of the Elgar, the timings of individual movements in this performance are revealing, coming in a full minute less in the opening Moderato and just under two minutes faster in the Adagio than the later du Pré/Barenboim recording. The score is littered with expression marks and rubato instructions, and yet there is huge scope for variation within that framework. The acid test is whether the interpretation is convincing. These artists eschew sentimentality or unwarranted mannerisms, but in pushing the tempos, they fall into the obvious trap of not allowing the music to breathe sufficiently, making some passages sound hurried. There are of course pluses: the music never sits still, and the clean, almost Classical feel to it lends a welcome transparency to the invention.

A similar pattern evolves in the Dvořák, where Gerhardt and Manze knock minutes off even fairly lean interpretions such as that by Heinrich Schiff. Again, to my mind the eloquent expressive moments could have more space without becoming lugubrious. Technically Gerhardt is supreme, and expressively nuanced, with Manze bringing a finely honed orchestral partnership to the table. But because of my reservations, I would argue that these are not benchmark renditions.

Joanne Talbot