Reviews
Overview "Splendid
playing from this young cellist in a debut of distinction."
Duncan Druce,
Gramophone "On
this showing, he is a player of discernment and finesse, phrasing eloquently and
conjuring a beautiful range of colours from his mahogany-toned 1682 Rugeri cello."
Richard
Wigmore, The Daily Telegraph "an
articulate musician with zest, spontaneity, technical assurance and a lovely sense
of line......a major talent."
Helen Wallace, BBC Music Magazine "With
all the finesse, poise and virtuosity of a star in the making......He displays
a fresh insight, effortless musicianship and a confidence belying his years."
Anthony
Holden, The Observer "EMI
Classics scores another hit in its Debut series."
Raymond S. Tuttle, International
Record Review "Effortlessly
natural."
Paul Sizer, Muso "With
his rich but clean tone and strong but fluent technique, it's clear that English
cellist Richard Harwood spent time in Vienna studying with the great Heinrich
Schiff. Restrained but deeply expressive, intelligent but profoundly soulful,
virtuosic but less concerned with showing off his talent than with delving into
the music, Harwood is imbued with the spirit of the central European tradition
of selfless music-making."
James Leonard, allmusic.com "Noticeable
from the solo opening of Beethoven's op.69 is the voluptuous shaping of Harwood's
phrasing - no half measures here. His playing is hard to beat for sheer beauty
of tone."
Janet Banks, The Strad "The
young English cellist Richard Harwood has chosen wisely for his calling-card debut
CD for EMI. He clearly has a hand-in-glove musical relationship with his pianist,
Christoph Berner. And he shines in all the repertoire he's chosen, major sonatas
by Beethoven and Chopin, given with ardent grandeur and generous lyricism, and
a clutch of encore pieces delivered with a quality of finish that appears to come
from superb technique allied to deep affection. Expect to hear a lot more from
both of these performers."
Michael Dervan, The Irish Times "In
the opening Beethoven sonata, he delivers the alternating phrases of fiery energy
and melting sweetness with equal conviction... With an EMI debut of this strength,
I’m already looking forward to the next one."
Charlotte Gardner, bbc.co.uk/music "Richard
Harwood's debut CD with Christoph Berner contains some quite extraordinary technical
accomplishment and a very fine balance of cello and piano (quite rare these days)
achieved by EMI. I particularly enjoyed the Chopin Sonata and a first rate account
of Popper's Elfentanz."
Keith Harvey, Violoncello Society of London "Richard
Harwood's cello recital does indeed offer plenty to enjoy......Harwood and Berner
display fine duo partnership and strong, intelligent musical instincts."
Jessica
Duchen, Classic FM Magazine "A
terrific CD debut."
Geoff Brown, The Times | Tracklisting Beethoven:
Sonata in A Op. 69
1. Allegro ma non tanto
2. Scherzo: Allegro molto
3.
Adagio cantabile
4. Allegro vivace Glazunov:
Chant du Ménestrel Op. 71
5. Lento Rubinstein:
Melodie in F (arr David Popper)
6. Moderato Offenbach
(arr W. Thomas-Mifune): Les Larmes de Jacqueline
7. Elégie Popper:
Elfentanz Op. 39
8. Presto Chopin:
Sonata Op. 65
9. Allegro moderato
10. Scherzo
11. Largo
12. Finale:
Allegro 
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