Happily young Russian cellist Alexander Ramm saved the evening. His riveting performance of Elgar’s last major work for orchestra, the well-known Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85, beautifully captured the concerto’s mood of disillusion, suffering and distress and kept the members of the audience perched at the edge of their seats as the music ravished their ears.
Conductor Brandon Phillips dexterously led soloist and orchestra in playing as one soul from the four insistent opening chords to its repeat at the end of the work, which resounded like a cry of despair.