Whisper Me a Tree

The cellist Olivia Gay grew up at the foot of the beautiful Vosges mountains in France, and her concern with the ecological well-being of the natural world underpins this beautifully played album. Forests are the theme, and Dvořák’s “Silent Woods,” part of From the Bohemian Forest for Cello and Orchestra, is the signature track—serenely tuneful, it’s a perfect vehicle for Gay’s heartfelt playing. The airy harmonics of John Luther Adams’ “The Wind at Maclaren Summit” (No. 2 of Three High Places) evoke the elements at work, while David Popper’s Elfentanz (“Dance of the Elves”) showcases Gay’s formidable virtuoso credentials. Throughout the album, Gay draws luscious sounds from her vintage Montagnana cello, and her environmental message emerges vividly.