Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Cello and Piano Sonatas

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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.

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

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.

Until receiving the DVD,I was not very keen on Beethoven's music for Cello and Piano.Until then I had bought the studio recordings of those works some thirty years ago.The LPS were in the lower place of my music shelves...seldom listened to...
But since the day I received the DVD...I really enjoyed the live recordings.Seeing both artists deeply penetrate the music made me appreciate it more than on the first hearing.Knowing that this recording took place overnight adds admiring the artists. Now I really love the work!!!
From now on I will search all filmed recordings of Richter.
G