Search - Astor Piazzolla, Manuel de Falla, Enrique Granados :: Music for Cello and Piano

Exhilarating Program by the Brilliant Young Cellist Alban Ge

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 11/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alban Gerhardt. Remember the name because he is headed toward great things in the music world. Having just heard him 'live' performing Haydn's Cello Concerto in C Major with the LA Philharmonic, he is a brilliant talent, a Berlin artist who has impeccable technique, captivating stage presence, one of the richest and warmest tones before the public today, intense musicality, and passion!



This interesting concert is all music from the Spanish/Hispanic school and Gerhardt (with fine collaboration from Rina Dokshinsky) pulls out all the stops. Works included are by Astor Piazzolla, Manuel de Falla, Enrique Granados, Isaac Albeniz, Gaspar Cassado, and Maurice Ravel ('Vocalise', 'Miroirs'). Some of the works are transcriptions while others are written especially for the cello and piano. Gerhardt captures the essence of each of the works and allows his instrument to sing and soar while demonstrating his meticulous technique.



This is a young star on the rise. Expect many more recordings to follow. Highly recommended and especially at his bargain price! Grady Harp, November 05"

DANCE

GEORGE RANNIE | DENVER, COLORADO United States | 08/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is brimming full of marvelous Spanish flavored dance music written and/or arranged for the cello and piano. The album contains compositions by Piazolla (Grand Tango--I loved it), de Falla (dances from La villa breve and El amor brujo), Granados (Spanish dance #5, Goyecas), Albeniz (tango #2, Malaguena) plus works by Ravel and Cassado. Alban Gerhardt on cello and Rina Dokshinsky on piano play all of the works with beautiful tone and with a keen Spanish sense of rhythm. In fact, all I wanted to do was to find a pair of castanets and dance around my living room. Alban plays the cello so very beautifully; he almost had me in tears in some of the slow introspective sections that are interspersed between the fast and rhythmic portions.



If you want to hear some spectacular cello playing (along with great piano playing) buy this disc. The recorded sound too is great! .

"