On September 15th Sony Classical released a CD that features the Legendary Israeli-Canadian Cellist Ofra Harnoy; consisting of the cello concertos of Elgar and Lalo, this recording highlights a long lost recording that Harnoy made in 1996 at Abbey Road Studios of Elgar’s sublimely beautiful Cello concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of George Pehilvanian. The recording also has a remastered performance of Lalo’s Cello concerto recorded with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Antonio de Almeida that was first released on CD in 1997.
The Elgar Concerto on the CD has never been released and in fact the original un-edited tapes were only found last year. As Harnoy explains, “The recording was made around a time when companies were changing hands and there were all kinds of things happening…somehow the master recording disappeared. We looked far and wide and asked all kind s of people, and it was only last year that it was found in the storage of a former associate. It was quite amazing to finally find it after all these years.”
Harnoy and her husband trumpet player Mike Herriot took the tapes and chose the best cuts working with music producer Andrew Keener to create a recording of the Elgar that is truly special. The recording was then transformed into Dolby Atmos, to create a listening experience that is truly remarkable. “It really really brought the recording to life. So now when you listen to it you can really feel where the cello is sitting and feel where every member of the orchestra is sitting. It is pretty amazing,” says Harnoy
The Lalo Concerto on the recording was also remastered using the Dolby Atmos technology, and it brings the recording to a whole new level of intimacy, creating a completely new and wonderful immersive experience.
Two great Cello concertos recorded by one of the truly great cellists around today, using technology that puts the listener on stage with the artists, what could be better? This is a recording that truly very singular and exceptional!