Sol Gabetta - Hofmann, Haydn, Mozart (2009)

The first half of the 18th century saw a rapid rise in the popularity of concertos for solo instruments and orchestra. Clearly, the instruments that gained the most from this were the piano and the violin. Concertos for the cello were few and far between, and in modern times only a handful are performed with any regularity. The Haydn concerto in C is by far the most recognizable from this period. Its relatively limited technical challenges make it an ideal choice for precocious young players, while its charm and elegance make it suitable for the highest caliber of professionals, as well. Far less known is the concerto in D by Leopold Hofmann; its limited popularity is a mystery. Much more technically demanding (especially in its use of the higher registers of the instrument) than the Haydn concerto, it is reminiscent of the virtuosic treatment of the cello common to Boccherini while Hofmann's treatment of the orchestra is much more complex and robust. Even less common is the Mozart concerto, originally for oboe, transcribed by the composer for flute and later arranged by an array of musicians to finally end up in its present form. Performing these works is cellist Sol Gabetta accompanied by the Kammerorchester Basel under the direction of Sergio Ciomei. Gabetta's discography has taken her from Vivaldi to Shostakovich, now coming back to the mid-18th century. She proves here again that she is an extremely versatile musician, possessing the ability to deftly switch styles without compromising sound or musicality. For this set of Classical concertos, Gabetta plays with an appropriately lean, focused sound that allows for exceptionally clean articulation and simplicity in phrasing. The precision of intonation and right-arm technique especially shines through in the little-heard Hofmann concerto and brings excitement and interest anew to the popular Haydn C major concerto. An all-around pleasing disc, this album is especially suited to listeners unfamiliar with the Hofmann concerto.