Gramophone Magazine
August 2020
Editor's Choice

Inbal Segev
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Marin Alsop

Clyne: DANCE
Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85

Inbal Segev, together with Marin Alsop and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, performs Edward Elgars Cello Concerto alongside the world-premiere recording of DANCE by English composer Anna Clyne, a work commissioned by Inbal.

This formidable release features Inbal Segev performing Elgars emotive Cello Concerto coupled with DANCE, an inspiring new work by Grammy-nominated English composer Anna Clyne that was commissioned by Inbal. On this powerful recording, Marin Alsop conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Marin introduced Inbal to Anna, sparking a special synergy between the three women. While Anna was composing DANCE, a five-movement concerto inspired by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi, further connections ensued. Annas soulful and vibrant music combines cultures that include her Irish-English family, Polish-Jewish ancestry and Inbals Israeli-American heritage. Inbal expounds, Annas music has an old-soul sensibility but is fresh and modern at the same time. This juxtaposition of old and new has always appealed to me; it suits my playing, as well as the tone of my 1673 Ruggieri cello.

Inbals idea to record Anna Clynes DANCE alongside Elgars Cello Concerto is timely: the two works were composed exactly 100 years apart. Inbal enthuses, It is so rewarding to record and perform the work of a contemporary female composer whose music withstands comparison with Elgars. The two pieces share a certain sensibility a romanticism, warmth and humanity that transcends any stylistic differences. Elgars Cello Concerto, written in the wake of World War I, is deeply reflective. Anna Clynes DANCE is optimistic and forward-looking. Inbals recording of these two cello concertos is timeless.

"In the final movement of Anna Clyne’s DANCE...a bear-hug of a theme emerges through angry, percussive col legno snaps that is so beautiful, so heartfelt that it instantly drew tears on first hearing…Segev has performed the work a couple of times in concert and plays it here with dark tone and deep insight, closely supported by Marin Alsop and the London Philharmonic Orchestra… Here is a cellist with something to say." - Gramophone Magazine, August 2020.