KABALEVSKY Cello Concerto No. 2 in c, op. 77. SCHUMANN Cello Concerto in a, op. 129  Theodor Lyngstad (vc); Eva Ollikainen, cond; Copenhagen P  OUR RECORDINGS 8.226926 (52:39) Reviewed from a WAV download: 96 kHz/24-bit

Our Recordings presents cellist Theodor Lyngstad’s debut album in his capacity as a soloist. Lyngstad, born in Norway in 1993, has been principal cello of the Copenhagen Phil since 2019. In this recording, Lyngstad performs cello concertos by Kabalevsky (No. 2 in c) and Schumann (in a) with the Copenhagen Phil and conductor Eva Ollikainen. The recording was made in April, 2021 at the concert hall of the Royal Danish Academy of Music. The featured repertoire was originally intended to be performed in concert, but those plans were halted by the COVID pandemic. In his introductory essay for the CD booklet, Lyngstad comments: “Knowing that the music now will reach an even bigger audience than the original concerts planned, it is a journey that fits the profile of the two concertos on the album. A journey from minor to major.” Lyngstad notes other common elements in the Kabalevsky and Schumann Concertos. These include a three-movement structure (performed without pause), fully-transcribed cadenzas, a keen sense of partnership between soloist and orchestra, a pervading mood of underlying restlessness and tension, and a focus on “something rather intimate, honest and true,” rather than bravura display.
Likewise, Lyngstad’s admirable performances of the Kabalevsky and Schumann display a technical and artistic commonality. Lyngstad’s lean, focused, and attractive sound is enhanced by the cellist’s exploration of a range of colors, articulation, and dynamics. If there are a few moments of opaque tone in the upper reaches of the Schumann Concerto, Lyngstad is hardly alone in that regard. Lyngstad’s phrasing is flexible, eloquent, and always couched within a concept of the work’s overall progression. His facility in rapid passagework is likewise impressive. This recording documents the work of a gifted and searching artist. And it is wonderful to hear Lyngstad collaborate with his own orchestra. A gratifying sense of partnership is never in doubt. Conductor Ollikainen leads crisp and vigorous performances, with a lovely, blended orchestral sonority. The mellifluous winds of the Copenhagen Phil offer especial pleasure. An auspicious debut, one that makes me look forward to more recordings by Theodor Lyngstad. Recommended. Ken Meltzer

Four stars: An impressive debut solo album by cellist Theodor Lyngstad