Jo Talbot enjoys cellist Christian Poltéra’s honeyed tones in this glowing Prokofiev Symphony-Concerto
Prokofiev
Symphony-Concerto; Sonata, Op. 134; Sonata, Op. 119* (Poltéra plays Prokofiev)
Christian Poltéra (cello), *Juho Pohjonen (piano); Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Anja Bihlmaier
BIS BIS-2617 69:48 mins
Prokofiev’s Symphony-Concerto is one of the most taxing works in the repertoire, running into 31 pages of high tessitura invention, acrobatic arpeggio figuration, tortuous double and triple stops and pages of wildly modulating scalic passages.
Alongside that are his trademark swooningly heart-wrenching melodies whose captivating qualities make the industry of learning the work all the more worthwhile.
Plenty of heavy-hitters have recorded the work with some success. Inevitably, Rostropovich’s personality looms large, as he was so pivotal in its creative process.
But Christian Poltéra’s playing holds up well to such stellar competition, and is certainly helped by BIS’s lucid recording. His 1711 Mara Stradivari positively glows with honeyed tones, and is particularly winning in the high register lyrical melodies.
Poltéra follows the tempo instruction of the opening Andante to the letter, which seems leisurely in comparison to some other versions. Yet this allows for more dramatic impact in the ensuing movements.
The Allegro giusto positively tears along before the coaxing melody brings repose and winning tenderness. A ferociously challenging cadenza in double stops follows, and Poltéra shapes this well, whilst the third movement lightens the mood.
The Lahti Symphony Orchestra under Anja Bihlmaier are particularly brilliant partners bringing incisive texturing and purposeful voice leading to the orchestral part.
The performance of the Op. 119 Cello Sonata is equally impressive; Juho Pohjonen is an excellent foil. Jo Talbot