Bachtrack: Schumann Concerto with London Mozart Players

“In lists of great cello pieces, Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minordoesn’t usually take top spot. By its very nature, it avoids dazzling displays of the instrument’s capabilities or any attempts to allow the virtuoso soloist to show off. Instead, Schumann felt he must try for “something else”, and while there is certainly a fair sprinkle of subtle introspection, it is nevertheless an incredibly expressive piece with one or two quite remarkable features. It is this combination that appeals to Maciej Kulakowski, another fine product of the Young Classical Artists Trust, whose performance with the LMP was cultured, uncomplicated and highly lyrical. 

Kulakowski’s fluidity and clean tones suited this music well, with Schumann’s sparing orchestration affording soloist and orchestra some intimacy, almost chamber-like at times. A thoughtful and unhurried first movement revealed some wonderful dialogue, with Kulakowski’s lightness of touch impressively peppering the more expansive lines to create the necessary light and shade. The second movement was lusciously seductive, the glorious duet with the principal cellist being a particular highlight, and the sheer vibrancy of the third movement Rondo was lithe and gutsy, with a meditative cadenza. For all of this, I still felt that there was more in the tank, but this was nevertheless a nicely judged performance, well-conceived in shape and balance, and showing a clear symbiotic relationship between soloist and orchestra.

To close, the LMP strings performed an arrangement of Schumann’s Träumerei to send us off, dreaming... (maybe of packed concert halls?)”