Gautier Capuçon: Elgar, Walton

The Strad Issue: December 2024

Description: Performances of much-loved concertos are given with due drama

Musicians: Gautier Capuçon (cello) London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio Pappano

Works: Elgar: Cello Concerto. Walton: Cello Concerto

Catalogue number: ERATO 5021732264831

Gautier Capuçon opens Elgar’s Cello Concerto in fruity dramatic splendour. He and Pappano proceed at a steady pace, with Capuçon gentle and melancholy as they lead up to the cello’s poco allargando rising scale, which they despatch with thrilling accord (it is odd how often it doesn’t quite come off) and the movement develops in an intense lyrical and emotional manner. The following Allegro molto is light and entrancing. In the Adagio Capuçon produces the tenderest of intimate musing, with featherlight, floating playing that gives way to anguished passion, expressed by a lusciously juicy vibrato. The high-spirited finale is muscular and propulsive before its emotionally wrenching final pages.

Capuçon shows supreme lyrical craftsmanship in the first movement of Walton’s concerto, with an eloquent and discursive unfolding of the long and complex opening melody. He is bone dry in the energetic staccatos of the Allegro appassionato, his tone sometimes gruff as he presses forward before melting into Walton’s occasional moments of languid Mediterranean warmth. He tackles the two great cadenzas of the finale in fine style, with personality and bravura. The LSO and Pappano are in superb sensitive accord, and the recording is warm and well balanced.

TIM HOMFRAY