Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Sol Gabetta / Tugan Sokhiev

Sound of gold

What do Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto and Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony have in common? That’s right: they both have the catalogue number 107 and – and this is the real point – the cello can be heard at the beginning. One could assume that the similarities end here. While Bruckner focusses on long melodic lines and vocal arches, Shostakovich is much more rhythmic. Nevertheless, both composers pursue the same goal: the expression of the greatest and most intense emotions. With Tugan Sokhiev and the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, they are in the best of hands. With its unique sound – Herbert von Karajan compared it to the »lustre of old gold« – the venerable orchestra puts the two sound monoliths at the Elbphilharmonie in the perfect acoustic light. Star cellist Sol Gabetta provides the right pitch on the cello.