Although it takes in a wide range of Jewish repertoire, composed and traditional, this collection centres on the more familiar music of Ernest Bloch. But the programme opens with Max Bruch's even better-known "Kol Nidrei", which the pianist John Lenehan introduces with gentle sensitivity before Paul Marleyn takes up the passionate soliloquy, with its memorably warm Adagio main theme. Bloch's contribution includes a fine early (1897) "Cello Sonata", a straight-forward cyclic work in which the principal ideas only slightly anticipate his mature Hebrew melodic style. But it is freshly enjoyable when given such committed advocacy.
Bloch is heard at his most passionate in the "Méditation hébraïque", played here with engulfing ardour, and if the three pieces From Jewish Life (Prayer, Supplication and Jewish Song) are more restrained, they are not less heartfelt.
The pair of Bernstein Meditations occupy a different, more rarified soundworld. They are placed as interludes in his "Mass" and they act similarly here. With the cello part originally written for Rostropovich, and improvisational in feeling, Bernstein's haunting expressive lines poignantly explore the instrument's range, while the piano role is by no means just an accompaniment.
Stutschewsky's heartfelt lament "Kinah" has much in common with the characteristic traditional numbers, as has Shchedrin's "Cardil", which mix Hebrew irony and nostalgia with sudden accelerandi into cheerful dance music.
The penultimate popular song, "Chanukah Oy Chankah", celebrates a family festival of candles, presents, joy and love, and gathers momentum infectiously: here Lenehan provides his own spontaneous version of the piano part. The closing Bloch "Nigun" taken from Baal Shem makes an eloquent, sombre coda. It was written for violin and piano but Marleyn's cello sings the fervent melodic line with deep lyrical feeling to make the transcription completely convincing.
Throughout, the playing of both artists is totally idiomatic and the recording, too (from Andrew Keener and Mike Clements) is vivid and present within an attractive acoustic. A most rewarding concert if you enjoy the special melodic flavour of Hebrew music.
GRAMOPHONE (Ivan March)