Here’s an interesting program, one of those well-planned recitals that adds up to something greater than the sum of its parts. All of the music here, however distantly, bears a relationship to folk music, or at least music of a much earlier time, and it makes a highly attractive and varied compilation. Denise Djokic is an artist of the intense, passionate variety, sometimes a problem when you are playing an instrument that responds to excessive vigor by making the sounds of a dying cow. Fortunately, Djokic also has excellent intonation and a really powerful sense of rhythm. So even though the more volatile moments of Gaspar Cassadó’s wonderful solo sonata, and even the Aria from Stravinsky’s Suite italienne bring with them their quota of unnecessary performance noises, her sheer gusto and enthusiasm (seconded by pianist David Jalbert) remain impressive.
Actually, Djokic and her partner treat the Vaughan Williams and Schumann suites more gently and simply, as their folk-inspiration requires, and they deliver a quite pensive and appealing rendition of Janácek’s Fairy Tale as well. I can only applaud the selection and mix of repertoire, which displays the full range of the cellist’s ability but at the same time offers music either infrequently heard or in an unusual arrangement (the Stravinsky originally was written for piano and violin and later transcribed for cello).
I think the overall impression would have been even better had the engineers resisted the temptation to place the microphones too close to the cello; in a live recital there would be more ambient space around the instrument, but there’s no denying the vividness and impact of the playing. In sum, this is a fine recital by a pair of artists with lots of talent and a sense of adventure. It stands out from the crowd, and that’s no mean accomplishment.
