Prom 49: Czech Philharmonic/Hrůša/Kobekina review – impassioned playing of Dvořák and less well known Suk

Asrael was a better showcase for the orchestra than their slightly reticent performance of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, in which even the wind soloists seemed happy to take a back seat rather than try to compete or duet with Anastasia Kobekina’s solo cello. Kobekina took to the spotlight with open, impassioned playing, her broad full sound complemented by an interior-sounding tone that projected equally well, yet the performance as a whole was rather episodic, and while the moment of hush before the final huge crescendo was magical, it didn’t seem to join up with the rest. Her encore was fun: a gallardo by her father, Vladimir Kobekin, based on a Renaissance tune – a whirling, foot-stomping dance for cello and tambourine.