Beethoven: Cello and Piano Sonatas [Import, Live]

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Sviatoslav Richter (Performer), Mstislav Rostropovich (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Live
• Label: Doremi Records
• ASIN: B00000DG47
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #275,445 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Also on DVD, December 16, 2002

By 

"atacgene" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Cello and Piano Sonatas (Audio CD)

I have actually seen the DVD version of them playing, which I think is taken also at Edinburge, so I think it is the same recording. Excellent playing, though of course in mono sound. But not bad for that. The DVD is of course much better value, cheaper than 2 CDs here. And what an experience to be able to see the 2 giants playing together, with Richter producing exquisite pianissimo and light-weight sound from his huge hands! Rostropovich is characteristically intense and stylistically of course more romantic than today's period-awareness styles. Hey, but this is real great music making, speaking from their hearts! But get the DVD if you have a machine. There's also a studio version on Philips by the same artists which I have not heard.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Demonic Possession, August 18, 2007

By 

V. Stasov - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beethoven: Cello and Piano Sonatas (Audio CD)

These two titans play like men possessed with a rare spiritual fire that lifts the music to the highest levels of art.
You could say that this is the soundtrack to the movie: EMI released a DVD of them playing this very performance. Seeing them is even greater than hearing them (which already a pretty elevated experience).

Rostropovich plays like a madman - he looks and sounds like a man in the throws of ecstatic union with the gods of music. At times literally attacking his instrument, at times making love to it - his youth and passion are raw and exposed. Brilliant!

They are both huge risk takers with their music making here - exposing their souls in this performance. I am in awe of their work. They made a studio recording for Phillips that is very powerful but not quite as wild. The Casals-Serkin recording is wonderful in another way, but equally splendid. Beethoven: 5 Cello SonatasCasals Edition - Beethoven: Complete Cello Sonatas

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To me, THE BEST, January 25, 2002

By 

Sudjoko (The city of Bandung, INDONESIA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Cello and Piano Sonatas (Audio CD)

I know Richter and Rostropovich very well. I own recordings of both. I also know (and own) recordings of Beethoven's Cello Sonatas by other duos.
I must say, Richter and Rostropovich are superior. Nobody so far can match Rostropovich's soaring and glorious cello-playing, also in Brahms.