Obra: Suite italienne

The players gathered at the bar for a Scotch as the credits rolled. After three hours and twenty minutes of note-taking, I decided to follow suit.

A generous programme by Alban Gerhardt and Víkingur Ólafsson saw a tale of two halves, with the classical poise of the first half and the more extrovert showpieces of the second. 

The unmistakable approach of the American cellist lent itself easily to both Stravinsky and a recent work by Steven Mackey. It also twisted Brahms a little beyond recognition.