Customer Reviews

Beethoven Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5 / Rostropovich, Richter

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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.

Sublime. Nothing else could properly describe this union of giants.

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.

This DVD captured two masters at their prime. It took my breath away! I own CDs of these sonatas played by Casals/Serkin. But I rate Rostropovich/Ritcher higher. It is the straight-to-your-heart performance.

There is simply no better performance of 69, audio or video. The transition in to the last movement is so dramatic, so exciting, taking your breathe away.

Beethoven's Cello sonatas are not as well known as his other chamber pieces (at least to me) but these performances really turned me around. Richter & Rostropovich really deliver on the contours and shapes of these pieces, putting real feeling into some of these thorny themes. Some pieces start very strangely, and then explode into joy. A real pleasure to watch, vintage chamber doesn't get much better than this.

Edinburgh. August 31 , 1964. The people gathered there that evening perhaps were far to know they would be witnesses of one of the most extraordinary musical recitals of the past Century.

Two giants like Rostropovich and Richter gave the best of their talents in those peerless performances filled of flair, vitality and mercurial epic without never lacking imperial expression and artistic conviction.

You won't be able to believe either your eyes or your ears abot what will be going since the first bar played.

Both of them understand each other perfectly that certainly it will be hard for all of us - simple mortals - intend to find other team who works at such levels of commitment and compromise like they did.

If I was requested for the best performances I would dare to affirm the First Third and Fifth cello sonatas were sublime and masterfully played. But the level of the other two is so high that would be unfair to relegate them.

Additionally, there's a bonus. Richter playing Mendelssohn's variations serious Op. 14. To listen Richter in this repertoire is by itslef a genuine rarenessbut at the same time a majuscule surprise.

The final reward you'll get from this video is priceless. This is a formidable and incomparable musical document of first rate priority.

Don't miss it by any reason.