29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two Masters at the Height of their Powers, November 25, 2004
This review is from: Beethoven Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5 / Rostropovich, Richter (DVD)
Despite his enormous discography, there's not a very rich visual record of Richter. He and Rostropovich excelled in concert performance, and these DVDs convey their intensity playing some of the best music ever written for the cello. Richter once said in an interview that Beethoven is a matter of life and death, and that feeling comes through quite clearly here. There's a bonus solo piano reading of Mendelssohn's Variations Serieuses, Op. 54, that is dazzling.
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19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Immaculate, August 8, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Beethoven Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5 / Rostropovich, Richter (DVD)
Sublime. Nothing else could properly describe this union of giants.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beethoven would've loved this ..., April 23, 2008
This review is from: Beethoven Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5 / Rostropovich, Richter (DVD)
If you're familiar with
Rostropovich's Bach Cello suites 1-6 DVD, and you've listened to the long conversation between Rostropovich and the camera, namely you, the viewer then you probably heard him say the following:
"I approach this recording tomorrow with much trepidation as I have only once before allowed myself to do what I am about to attempt, and in that instance I fully regretted doing so."
He was talking about this performance on film, and those familiar with Rostropovich probably know this, but I don't think he meant it in the way that some would take it. He was a brilliant and warm human being full of compassion and humility, but the drive that kept his music alive within him was one of obvious perfection and disciplined toil. Watching his younger self here is entirely absorbing. His hand is often too fast for the camera's frame rate every time he plays out the vibrato with his left, which makes this film all the more fascinating.
You can tell that these two men are good friends who not only understood each others strengths and weaknesses (as I'm sure they thought they definitely had some), but also the strengths and the weaknesses of the music and play to it with real spirit and breathe it into being with profound respect.
Most Cello teachers will tell their students in order to really learn how to play the Cello well, you should always 'watch' and pay close attention to other great Cellists. This DVD is the perfect tool for anyone who needs to see a real master at work. Richter's playing here is some of the best phrasing I've yet heard, but let's be honest and admit that most are tuning in to this for Mstislav.
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