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Interested in Rostropovich CD's. Any reccomendations in terms of best performances, outstanding sonics, etc.
Follow Ups:
I'm surprised that, apart from the Bach cello suites (which to me are also the ones to forever return to - so vivid in their expression, unlimited in nuance, robust and big-voiced in that incomparable way that only Slava could accomplish), no one has mentioned these other immortal recordings by him:- Beethoven sonatas with Richter (from '63 and yes, the newer Philips 96/24 remasters bring a major improvement); can anyone in their right mind claim that these works have been done better than here??
- Brahms sonatas with Serkin (from '83 on DGG).
- the Schubert/Schumann/Debussy disc with Britten on the piano (from '61 and '68, on Deccca), which, best of all, in SACD version sounds truly magnificent, so very alive.
- And he didn't shy away from newer music, either: "The Canticles of the Sun" by Gubaidulina that he recorded for EMI just a couple of years ago is excellent.I don't know about you guys, but for me an interesting cello concerto sounds a bit like an oxymoron; it's more in repertoire like the above that Rosto really shines and you can best appreciated his art.
I remember tuning into the middle of a sensational Schubert Arpeggione sonata on the radio not long ago and thinking that the world had a great new cellist.But unlike most CDs played on the radio, it wasn't a recent release. It was Rostropovich and Britten.
so it's not oxymoronic!
...right about that one. I just find them unable to fully leave behind that tonally and dynamically pretty narrowly defined lyrical matrix in which the solo instrument forces them (how to avoid sentimentalism and monotony?).But in fact, I get a tremendous kick out of this one, speaking of his (Rostro) workhorses:
I am just a bit old and old fashioned, details matter and I am still in the game of comparing one performance to another to get some depth and perspective about pieces.That doesn't rule out solo and chamber pieces.
I posted in one of the Rostropovich threads that I have about 6 or 7 different performances of the Dvorak cello, but not the SACD, maybe I have 10. And I am looking for more. I love it very much.
That's a good approach, no? I share it, too. Helps you really figure out what that music is about when you hear it done in so many different ways.I do honestly like the recording by Queyras: there is something very sharp about it (in more than one sense). Maybe his moonlighting life in contemporary music (he played a lot with Boulez' specialist ensemble in Paris) helps in getting a fresh approach. And Belohlavek and the Czechs' playing here is ah so vigorous, clear, and alert. An antithesis of mushiness. Admittedly I've only very inadequately listened to the Rostropovich recordings of this work, but that's b/c in principle I keep clear of anything done by Karajan... but that's another story. Did you say you have the one with Ozawa, too, on Erato?
As I've gained in age I, too, have become more enthused about big orchestral playing showcasing some out-of-scale late Romantic works. I wonder what it is about. Even ten years ago I couldn't have possibly imagined myself doing what I nowadays secretly engage in the eventide: blasting Bruckner, Dvorak, and even Tchaikovsky (god forbid) to the hilt.
Enjoyment is a complex thing.
I actually have reviewed the entire Rostropovich/HvK disc at home and work, not just sampled, but relistened to set myself first last night. There is a huge orchestral backdrop with gorgeous playing and I think it's still James Galway soloing along with Rostropovich at that time!The disappointment was the Mercury Starker and also Erato Rostropovich (digital 1985). The first raw and less musical (the sound? maybe I need to check the hybrid SACD), the latter too soft. Also, the Erato sound is simply weird, with highlighted instruments and distant but highlighted orchestra parts. When large tuttis come in, everything goes opaque? Strange. Marked contrast to Szell/BPO which was a disc written up for clarity in reproducing the orchestra, attributed to Szell by some.
some posted against Rostropovich, I took the time to review parts of my HvK pairing and then played much of the 1st movement of the Boston/Ozawa, having played parts of the 3rd movement the other night. The latter is definitely inferior and makes me want to sample my cassette 5.10.69 Cleveland/Szell live. I have good memories of it.Instead, I went to Fournier/Szell, my favorite studio older LP, and it was fraught with noise (snap, crackles, etc.). I decided to clean it up (Spray and Wash spritzes included) and let it dry.
I then played Starker/Dorati/LSO, but the sound (Mercury) just wasn't there (sorry), so I went to mono Starker/Susskind/Philharmonia. Ahhh. SStarker right on, less forced vs. his remake, sound good with lots of hall ambience and bass.
Then I returned to Fournier/Szell--now, clean and quiet and better clarity. 90% of noise gone! I had lived with noise on that LP for 20 years? Now it really is the best one with superior sound too (DGG German pressing, non tuliped), with the mono Starker also in the running.
I know there are lots of more hip recommendations for Bach cello suites, but I still come back to Rostropovich for this sublime music even after listening to most of others..
These are great works to be sure. My favorite version is the Fournier on DG of 1961. It is relaxed and expressive. He's not in a hurry. As a pianist, not a cellist, I'm thinking this is more like what Bach had in mind.
I've listed recommended Rostropovich recordings from my collection with relevant data and a "grade" for sound and performance.As performer.............
Beethoven/Brahms: Concerto in C for piano,violin,cello, op.56 'Triple'; Double Concerto for Violin,Cello in A min, op.102, Oistrakh,D/Rostropovich,M/Richter,S/Karajan/Szell, EMI 7647442, 1969, ADD, 70, B+, A
Dutilleux/Lutoslawski: Cello Concerto (1970); Cello Concerto (1969-70), Rostropovich,M/Baudi,S/Lutoslawski,W/Orchestra de Paris, EMI 7243 5 67868 2, 1974, ADD, 53, A+, A+
Dvorak/Tchaikovsky: Cello Concerto in B min, op.104; Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations, op.33, Rostropovich,M/Karajan,H/BPO, DG 447 413-2 , 1968, ADD, 60, B+, A+
Dvorak/Tchaikovsky: Cello Concerto in B min, op.104; Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations, op.33, Rostropovich,M/Ozawa,S/BSO, Erato 45252-2, 1985, DDD, 57, A-, A
Kancheli: Simi (for cello & orchestra); Magnum Ignotum (for wind ensemble), Rostropovich,M/Kakhidze,J/Royal Flanders PO, ECM 289 462 713-2, 1997, DDD, 51, A+, A
Prokofiev/Shostakovich: Sinfonia concertante in E min for cello, op.125; Cello Concerto No.1, E-flat maj,op.107, Rostropovich,M/Ozawa,A/LSO, Erato ECD 75485, 1987, DDD, 63, A, A+
Schubert: String Quintet in C maj, D956 , Emerson Qt/Rostropovich,M., DG 431 792-2, 1990, DDD, 54, A-, A
As Conductor........Britten/Walton: Violin Concerto, op.15 (revised); Viola Concerto (1961), Vengerov,M/Rostropovich,M/LSO, EMI 5 57510 2, 2002, DDD, 64, A+, A+
Prokofiev/Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No.1 in D maj, op.19; Violin Concerto No.1 in A min, op.77, Vengerov,M/Rostropovich,M/LSO, Teldec 450992256, 1994, DDD, 62, A, A+
Prokofiev/Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No.2 in G min, op.63; Violin Concerto No.2 in C# min, op.129, Vengerov,M/Rostropovich,M/LSO, Teldec 63013150, 1996, DDD, 62, A+, A+
Rachmaninov: Vespers (All-Night Vigil), op.37, Mass for Unaccompanied Chorus, Rostropovich,M/Choral Arts Society Wash, Erato 45269-2, 1986, DDD, 57, A, A+
Schnittke: Trio Sonata; Viola Concerto , Bashmet,Y/Rostropovich,M/LSO, RCA 60446-2RC, 1988, DDD, 62, A, A
Shchedrin/Stravinsky/Tchaikovsky: Concerto Cantabile; Violin Concerto in D; Serenade melancolique, op.26, Vengerov,M/Rostropovich,M/LSO, EMI 5 56966 2, 1999, DDD, 61, A, A
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 2 in B, op.14 'To October'; Symphony No. 3 in Eb, op.20 'The First of May', Rostropovich,M/LSO/London Voices/Edwards,T., Teldec 450990853, 1993, DDD, 48, A, A
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D min, op.47, Rostropovich,M/National SO, Teldec 94557-2, 1994, DDD, 45, 01/17/07, A, A
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 in C min, op.65 , Rostropovich,M/Natl SO, Teldec 903174719, 1991, DDD, 61, A, A
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake suite, op.20; Sleeping Beauty suite; op.66a; The Nutcracker suite, op.71a, Rostropovich,M/BPO, DG 429 097-2, 1978, ADD, 69, A , A+
This was released recently. Prokofiev: symphony concerto and Miaskovsky: cello concerto on EMI both conducted by Sargent (stereo).
There are about 30+ video clips of Rostropovich playing various cello concertos on YouTube, including extended clips of the Dvorak Concerto with Carlo Maria Giulini and the London Philharmonic. There are also several clips of Yo Yo Ma playing the same selections that you can view for comparisons.
the DGG Dvorak cello with BPO/Karajan 1968 cd and his remake on Erato digital LP with S. Ozawa and Boston (last movement only) mid 1980's. Both feature a Rostropovich favorite coupling, the Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations.I had felt the first was a bit sluggish, but upon relistening, apart from a bit of brightness and hardness and spot miking from the engineers and the digital source, it is a landmark from the past and certainly historic. Great performances, wonderful BPO power and playing and the sound is excellent.
Unfortunately, in the part of the 2nd one I sampled, the sound was distant for the orchestra, close up for the soloist, and very weak compared to the earlier recording. More when I listen further, but it got late.
The Hadyn cello concertos is another highly regarded disc (I have Angel LP).
who was a star young conductor at that time pre S. America, Hague and Scotland, etc. His Fournier DGG record is another classic.All these are classics to be heard by the younger musicophiles. Not just Yo Yo and young beautiful ladies such as Bond. You know what I mean, right? I agree with your comment on disorganization, which applies to my live Cleveland FM cassettes.
Excerpt from linked Szell discography (amazing compilation). I had the date of the cassette copy wrong (5.10 not 5.1--not clear on announcement by WCLV FM Cleveland). Again, that's an interesting version, and I will relisten re how "right" the performance is and how soft Rostropovich is playing.
Dvorak section
Concerto for violoncello in b minor, B.191(op.104)
1) 28th Apr. 1937, Slovansky Hall(former Deutsche Haus), Prague
* with Pablo Casals(vc) / Czeko Philharmonic
* Producer/Engineer ; Fred Gaisberg / Charles Gregory
* 78s info ; HMV M 306 / DB 3288~92 / DB 8420~24, Victor M 458 / 14936~40 / AM 458 / 14941~45 / DM 458 /
16365~69
* 45s info ; Victor WCT 39
* LP ; EMI COLH 020 / COLH 030 / HLM 7013 / E 80614(Ger) / Références 1013841(French), Toshiba GR 2012 /
GR 2074D, RCA LCT 1026, Franklin MINT 41(2 set), OE OLAC-0043
* CD ; EMI CDH 7 63498 2 / CDM 5 62953 2 / CEC2D-0001(2 set; Korea) / CFP 68805, Dutton Laboratories
CDBP 9709 / CDEA 5002, Naxos 8.110930, Pearl GEMM CD 9349 / GEMM CD 9935, Toshiba TOCE 6701~10
(10 set) / TOCE 55531 / TOCE 11576, Definitive Classics DRCD 11113, Opus Kura OPK 2043
* transferring from 78s ; Keith Hardwick(EMI), Mark Obert-Thorn(Naxos)2) 1~3rd Jun. 1962, Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin-Dahlem
* with Pierre Fournier(vc) / Berliner Philharmoniker
* Executive Producer/Producer/Engineer ; Elsa Schiller/Hans Weber/Günter Hermanns
* LP ; DG 138 755 / 2535 106 / 411 015-1 / 419 347(5 set) / RG 176
* Reel Tape ; DG DGK 9120
* Tape ; DG MC 043
* CD ; DG 423 881-2 / 429 155-2 / 447 349-2(double; 2 set) / 474 167-2 / 29710-2 / F28G 22069 / POCG
9711(18 set) / POCG 90356 / POCG 90521 / UCCG 9335 / UCCG 9501 / DG 5598(2 set; Korean) /
POCG 3950(2nd mvt.)3) 10th May 1969(live)
* with Mstislav Rostropovich(vc) / Cleveland Orchestra
* CD ; Documents LV 941, Ilumination SZE 32
Britten, Symphony for Cello
Britten, Suites for Solo Cello 1 & 2 (he never recorded #3, I don't think)
Britten, Sonatas for Cello and Piano
Shostakovich, Concerto for Cello #1 (w/Ormandy)He did the Beethoven Cello Sonatas with Richter but my recording of those (LP) is just so-so, so maybe somebody else can comment on them.
nt
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