Releasing a disc with two monuments of the Romantic cello repertoire is a major statement for a young performer. And in a somewhat crowded marketplace, those recordings need to be of the highest possible calibre. Miranda’s readings of both concertos are bold and voluptuous, demonstrating a fine sense of musicianship. Unfortunately the Venezuelan-American cellist’s solid performance is not always enough to galvanise this recording.

Miranda plays with a strong sense of expressivity, so there are plenty of enjoyable moments. The Schumann in particular is quite delightful. The outer movements feature stunning passages of technical bravura, which Miranda manages well with a good sense of bite from the bow. The same is true of the final movement of the Dvorák. Other areas are less enjoyable. The cello is recorded quite closely, and there’s no real ambience in the orchestral sound, so the overall effect lacks atmosphere and depth. The second movement of the Schumann should sound like a cello aria surrounded by an orchestral halo, but the sound lacks that character.

The first movement of Dvorák’s Cello Concerto should really pack a punch, but the final climax comes off flat, mostly due to the orchestra’s intonation. With some stunning recordings on the market, this one comes up somewhat short. It demonstrates Miranda’s virtuosity, but it’s perhaps not a must-have recording.