By Lyn Bronson
The very first sounds we heard coming from the cello of Lynn Harrell convinced us that we were in the presence of someone who is not merely a cellist, but a great musician who just happens to be a cellist. Nothing he does is for effect, but rather renders and spins musical ideas in the loftiest manner. Pianist Gavin Martin, listed in the printed program as “accompanist,†a rather demeaning term, played an important role in this recital presented by the Carmel Music Society, for in all the works heard in this program, he was an equal partner, and in some instances much more than equal (for, after all, Beethoven, Brahms and Chopin were great pianists). By any measure, it was a happy partnership and it produced fine results.
Opening the program with Schubert’s “Arpeggione†Sonata we heard playing that was as elegant as it was stylish. Cellists are faced with a great deal of awkward writing in Cassado’s transcription for cello, but Harrell made light of the awkwardness and made us unaware of the inherent difficulties. In the brief slow movement we were charmed by Harrell’s exquisitely masterful phrasing. No matter how many times you may have heard this sonata, on this occasion Harrell’s gorgeous playing revealed new beauties. Pianist Martin proved to be a fine and sensitive ensemble partner, not afraid to play out when his part was dominant or recede into the background when the cello was ascendant.
