Israeli cellist Inbal Segev and her partner, Finnish pianist Juho Pohjonen, give outstanding accounts of works by Chopin, Schumann, and Grieg that deserve such spirited and incisive championing. All three composers were master lyricists, and it shows in these performances.

His piece, which features the cellist Inbal Segev performing with the Metropolis Ensemble, is based on John Vanderlyn’s “Panoramic View of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles” (1818-19), a massive painting on nearly 2,000 square feet of canvas…

Segev’s majestic tone quality makes her interpretation a beautifully cantabile addition to the recorded literature…Segev’s long, long phrases, sparing use of portamento, and imperceptible bow changes are a perfect match for the richly romantic playing of her collaborator, pianist Juho Pohjonen.

“Pohjonen’s pianism is an equal partner to Segev’s verve in this bejewelled selection. This natural recording has a distinctly live quality.”

The martial first movement, Allegro agitato, utilizes the same motif in varying harmonic guises, all of which feed Segev’s instrument—particularly its low register—with musical manna from Heaven. Pohjonen’s liquid figures and Segev’s ardent passions demand we repeat the whole piece moments after we finish listening to the original run-through.

The melancholy ‘Mariel’ by Osvaldo Golijov inspired exquisite playing from Stoyanov on marimba and cellist Inbal Segev (she co-curated the program with Alsop). The last, introspective minutes, leading to a deep, long-held note of disarming beauty from Segev, left a haunting impression.

Segev’s cello tone is focused and eloquent; matte and viola-like in its upper register, it fills out warmly on the bottom strings. Pohjonen can be both limpid and brilliant but, again, there is no superficial sheen – it’s a sound that blooms from within.

Upstate Obscura was the name for [Timo Andres’] cello concerto, ending a week of cello virtuosi. Yo-Yo Ma was, as always, stunning. Andrei Ionită was cool and precise. Last night, though, Inbal Segev beat them all with a cello that more than glowed: it had the brightness and flames of a thousand Versailles flambeaux in the grand gardens, lighting the Grace Rainey Auditorium.