Reflections

Albumbeschreibung

Born in Madrid in 1991 into a family of musicians, Pablo Ferrández is one of the most outstanding cellists of the new generation. This, his first album for Sony Classical (released six years after an album of Dvořák and Schumann Concertos for Onyx Classics) is a testament to his daring musicality, combined with a profound sound. There is also a great deal of delicacy in the phrasing and expression, as witnessed first and foremost in Elegy, Op. 3 No. 1. by Rachmaninov, whose great Sonata in G minor, Op. 19 forms the heart of the programme. Alongside his acolyte and friend, the pianist Denis Kozhukhin (a Pentatone artist whose Brahms recital in 2017 was memorable), he displays a great sense of structure and an ideal measure of restraint, without the slightest Romantic (romanticising) excess, notably in the Finale, which is totally pristine. Sumptuous - it is just a pity that the sound recording dries up the timbres of the two instruments a little. "Pablo Ferrández is truly a singular artist ... marvellous intonation, very refined vibrato, absolutely impeccable left and right hands, and a true musician", said Anne-Sophie Mutter a few years ago of her young colleague. She was not wrong.

This recital, entitled 'Reflections' also features some Spanish pieces, namely two excerpts from Manuel de Falla's 7 Canciones populares Españolas, namely Nana and Asturiana, and Oriental from Enrique Granados' Danzas españolas, before concluding with the famous El cant dels ocells, a traditional Catalan piece arranged in 1939 by Pablo Casals. In these miniatures, which he alternates with transcriptions of other pages by Rachmaninov (Vocalise), Pablo Ferrández continues to fascinate with the beauty of his sonority, a veritable black sun, and penetrating phrasing  ̶ Asturiana, magic! © Pierre-Yves Lascar/Qobuz