Natalie Clein's Jubilee Elgar

Natalie Clein (photo: Sussie Ahlburg)

What’s Elgar’s Cello Concerto got to do with the Queen? Good question, and not one answered by the Philharmonia’s Diamond Jubilee concert on Tuesday. Natalie Clein played the Elgar, though I wasn’t wholly convinced:

“Natalie Clein’s elegant and clean performance began well by replacing the doom-laden trudge that sometimes overwhelms the opening movement with a noble and rhythmically-conscious tread, but her small sound and consequent lack of projection led to the question of her suitability for the work. Stylish portamenti were appealing in isolation but generally seemed to be a distraction from the music’s intensity and purpose.”

Read the rest at Classical Source. Also, hop across to Boulezian for an alternative viewpoint.