“The greatest possible diversity and richness of facets characterized soloist Pablo Ferrández’s interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme in A major, Op. 33 for cello and orchestra. The Spanish cellist, who studied at the Kronberg Academy with Frans Helmerson, gave each of the seven variations a character of its own.”
“Clear, concise and unmistakably articulated phrases alternated with broad, singing legato lines. Ferrández also allowed himself a deeply expressive, romantic vibrato in some passages, while elsewhere offering an anti-sentimental interpretation of Tchaikovsky. His playing often sounded direct, almost free of recitative-like rhetoric.”
“His approach was already evident in his intonation alone. It was lightning-fast and impeccably clean in the required passages, extending into the highest registers, while at other moments it could sound deliberately sharpened and consciously musical in its imperfection.”
“His approach was flawless, and the transitions were excellent.”
“Peter Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations were placed in the hands and arms of Pablo Ferrández: an Apollonian sound, at times almost austere in its finely nuanced refinement, particularly when one has the great Russian cello tradition of Mstislav Rostropovich in mind.”