Glorious Dvořák leaves an impression

The intensity and poetry of Jean-Guihen Queyras and Jiří Bělohlávek's Prague Philharmonia performance of great Dvořák works will linger long after listening

Composer: Dvořák
Repertoire: Cello Concerto; Piano Trio No.4, ‘Dumky’
Artists: Jean-Guihen Queyras; Prague Philharmonia/Jiří Bělohlávek
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Orchestral 
Label: Harmonia Mundi HMC 901867

Not since Bernard Haitink’s 1970s LPO-accompanied version for Maurice Gendron (Philips) has the Cello Concerto sounded as glorious as this. Add to that Queyras’s masterly playing (more thoughtfully poetic than usual in this work) and the only thing lacking is a sense of spontaneity. Strangely enough, it’s the intensity and emotional volubility of the coupled ‘Dumky’ Trio that leaves the strongest impression here.