Philharmonia Orchestra
Alexander Briger - conductor
"flawless intonation and an expressive core, communicating its spirit right to the back seats of the hall"
The Daily Telegraph
"A freshness of approach and of sound makes Jamie Walton’s reading of Elgar’s Cello Concerto an appealing proposition, despite the crowded market. He sees this work not simply as an orgy of expressive indulgence; instead, he measures carefully its introspection"
The Sunday Times
"Walton's performance of the Elgar would be worth recommending on its own: this young British cellist is effortlessly accurate and, more important, emotionally engaged and engaging ... Despite living in such disparate lands and situations, these two composers shared a similar spiritual-musical world. Walton, with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Alexander Briger, deserves credit for making the point so sympathetically"
The Financial Times
"His expression is clean and uncluttered, his musicianship unusually selfless. Only the music's will matters ... The cello quakes with vibrato, but sensibly avoids floods of tears"
The Times
"This fine disc is testimony to the musicality, maturity and insight that distinguish Jamie Walton' cello playing ... Walton is not someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, which makes the atmosphere all the more poignant ... Orchestra and soloist are as one in conveying the subtle spirit of this music on a disc that has an ineluctable power to draw you into its expressive realms"
The Sunday Telegraph
"Elgar, too, would surely have admired Walton for his restraint and nobility of tone, particularly in the two adagio passages "
The Mail on Sunday
"He maintains tension throughout the concerto and revels in the very fast bowing of the scherzo"
MusicWeb International
" ... the marriage of the cello with the orchestra is rarely confrontational or heroic, leaving every opportunity for lyricism ... Above all, class and distinction characterize this musician whose name should surely be remembered"
Concerto Net
"This recording is original in that it makes the cello sing through two post romantic composers that seem opposed one to another ... The Philharmonia’s accompaniment is impeccable, leaving the cello to dominate but without ever effacing itself too much"
Chronique Musicale
The cello concertos of Elgar and Myaskovsky written in 1919 and 1944 respectively, engender few similarities these days but make an exciting coupling due not only to the disparate nature of the composers’ lives and situations, but also to the common ground they tread; both composers were in their early sixties when writing their main work for the instrument.
A stunning performance by Jamie Walton, accompanied by the magnificent Philharmonia Orchestra.
Jamie has enjoyed success as a rising international soloist and has given concerts in some of the most prestigious concert halls in the world. He appears regularly at the Wigmore Hall and Symphony Hall, Birmingham and has performed with leading orchestras such as the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra.
