Capuçon/Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra/Gergiev: Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme; Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante

Many people will be drawn to this disc by the thought of glamorous ­Gautier Capuçon playing Tchaikovsky's ­Variations on a Rococo Theme. The main work, however, is the Prokofiev piece, recorded here under the title Sinfonia Concertante (the Symphony-Concerto for Cello and Orchestra Op 125). Written for ­Rostropovich in 1952, and ­reworking material from an ­earlier concerto, it's a loose, baggy piece. Capuçon has ­apparently adored it since childhood. I have to confess that his ­performance doesn't convince me that the work does anything other than ramble, though you can't help but be seduced by the passion and irony of his playing. ­Gergiev and the Mariinsky ­Orchestra bring ­terrific drama and fire to it as well. The ­Tchaikovsky, though done with great ­dexterity, sounds a bit stiff by its side. The ­accompanying ­material is ­inconsistent as to whether the ­recordings were taped live or not. There is no audience clatter, but someone, probably Capuçon, does a lot of heavy breathing, while someone else, possibly Gergiev, can be heard singing along.