In April of 1996, Ofra Harnoy entered the venerable Abbey Road Studios in London with the London Philharmonic Orchestra to record Edward Elgar’s great cello concerto. Unfortunately, shortly after this event, the end result did not end up where it was supposed to be and was not released to the public. In fact, the whereabouts of the recording went unknown for quite some time, afterward.
In early 2022, through some diligent searching, the lost recording was located and will now be released paired with Harnoy’s remastered recording of the Édouard Lalo Cello Concerto, on the Sony Classical label. With the help of session notes from and conversations with recording producer Andrew Keener, the 1996 Abbey Road sessions were edited (Mike Herriott) and mastered (Ron Searles). The result is what will likely be lauded as one of the definitive interpretations of Elgar’s great warhorse for the cello.
Described by the New York Times as “born to the instrument”, Ofra Harnoy brings her unmatched passion and virtuoso to Elgar’s masterpiece and final notable composition. Very much influenced by Jacqueline Du Pré’s 1965 recording, and the rare opportunity afforded her to study the work with Ms. Du Pré, in masterclass, Harnoy’s own voice comes to the fore to capture Elgar’s own anguish and heartbreak.
Ofra Harnoy has established herself as one of the greatest cellists on the world’s concert stage. She has won many awards and distinctions for her recordings, including 5 JUNO Awards, including Instrumental Artist of the Year and Best Classical Album of the Year in Canada. After taking a career hiatus to raise her children and then deal with a near career-ending shoulder injury, Ofra Harnoy started performing again in 2018. This album presents a number of tried and true Baroque favourites on the cello, like Bach’s “Air" from Orchestral Suite #3, “Bist Du Bei Mir”, as well as some slightly lesser known gems. An amazing recording and an inspiring comeback.
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REVIEW:
The well-chosen selections here include some material previously recorded by Harnoy from her 40-plus albums, as well as favourites such as Bach’s Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 and Bist du bei mir, with the addition of more obscure, but stirring repertoire from Corelli and Allegri. This recording is a triumph, and a must-have for any serious collector.
Now living in Newfoundland, cellist Ofra Harnoy has been inspired by the immensely rich musical heritage of the island, so much so that she chose to devote her new album, On the Rock, to the province’s familiar and wonderful repertoire. She has invited guests such as Fergus O’Byrne, Alan Doyle, Amanda Cash, Bob Hallett and Mike Herriott to join her on classics such as Mussels in the Corner, Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary’s, St. John’s Waltz and Cliffs of Baccalieu. With her cello at the forefront, the result is a magnificently vibrant and unprecedented musical celebration of Newfoundland. Ofra Harnoy has established herself as one of the greatest cellists on the world’s concert stage. She has won many awards and distinctions for her recordings, including 5 JUNO Awards.
