Artem Konstantinov

         Gagliano cello bel canto  HUGO

   If the cello is the instrument thatsounds closest to the human Voice，

then cellist Artem Konstantinovsings through it in different tongues．On

his debut album,theRussian Drincipal cellist of the HonlgKong City Chamber

 Orchestrafeatures 14 works for cello and piano ranging fom baroque

tocontemporary,classical to movietheme，all plaved and recorded at demonstration

 level．

     The 18th-century Gagliano celloused on this album is more than the

icing on the cake．Its richlymellow timbre enhances the emotional depth and

works best in1vrical pieces such as the elegant Swan by Saint-Saens and the

serene Sicilienne by Faure．The cello’S charm also shines in Mozart’S

 spirited Divertimento．

     Passion aside，the cello sings in beguiling simplicity in the baroque

pieces．Both Bach’S famous Air from the third suite and his Contemporary

 Italian Locatelli’Srarely heard sonata provide space for the cello fine

to breathe on its own terms

    Most welcome are the newer compositions such as Astor Piazzolla’S Le Grand

Tango.

    Thell minute work was composed for Russian master Mstislav Rostropovich，

and his compatriot delivers it in convincing style．

    Oliver Chou

--------刊于《南华早报》