Customer Reviews

Brahms, Mendelssohn: Cello Sonatas

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When I first started collecting classical CDs, I only had a few Mercury Living Presence (MLP) titles. In my quest to get the absolute best, or at least a definitive recording, of the major works of the standard repertoire, MLP discs rarely topped the critics' lists. In fact, only three MLP recordings have been earmarked as "Essential Recordings" by amazon -- Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, Byron Janis performing Rachmaninov's 2nd & 3rd Piano Concertos, and Yehudi Menuhin performing Bartok's 2nd Violin Concerto, all three with Antal Dorati as conductor. It is also safe to say that three other titles are equally essential for their historical value alone. They are Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake by Dorati (the first recording of the complete ballet), Janis performing Liszt's Piano Concertos (the first recordings made in the Soviet Union by American technicians, musical staff and equipment), and Kubelik's Chicago Symphony performance of Pictures at an Exhibition (one of, if not the single best mono recording ever, and the one that led the New York Times critic to coin the phrase "Living Presence," from which the label named its series). But how does a CD line go from having a half-dozen must have recordings, to being this reviewer's all-time favorite classical label?

The answer: consistently magical performances, captured in brilliant golden-age stereo sound, that offer a slightly different take on your typical interpretation of the great works. While MLP titles may not offer the best standard account of a work, they always surprise you and open you up to all the possibilities that the music has to offer. For example, this performance of Brahms' Cello Sonatas by Starker and Sebok may not be the consensus first choice recording -- for most that would probably be the Du Pre/Barenboim, or one of the two Ma/Ax recordings -- but I constantly come back to this disc for a different perspective, and its vibrancy and splendor never disappoint me. Maybe that is why collectors prize these recordings, because they are a breath of fresh air in a homogenized world of listening. Of course, collectors love a challenge too, and MLP CDs are becoming increasingly hard to find. It has taken years for me to finally find all of the MLP CDs released to date, and unfortunately I don't think there will be any new releases forthcoming. So collectors, and even those who aspire to be, should pick up as many Mercury Living Presence discs as possible now, before they all die.

The Brahms cello sonatas are favorites of mine. I've owned this recording, the Ma / Ax version on Sony, and the Rostropovich / Serkin version on DG. This version by Starker and Sebok takes the cake. I think Ma's playing is so refined that it can become precious. Rostropovich strikes me as being the opposite: very big and brash and overly macho. The sound quality on the DG recording is also a bit strident. Starker is somewhere in the middle, and I like that. He is probably closer to Ma, but there's a sort of honesty and straighforwardness in Starker that appeals to me more than Ma's refinement or Rostro's brashness. The Mercury sound is also top drawer. The piano is slightly recessed relative to the cello, but the effect is never distracting or unpleasing. The Sony sound is better than the DG, and maybe even slightly preferable to the Mercury. None of the pianists made enough of an impression on me to really comment confidently about their differences. Anyway, I don't think you can go wrong with this disc.

Of all the recordings I possess of the Brahms Sonatas, this one is my favourite; not least because it is almost the only one having a proper recorded balance between the 'cello and piano. It has to be admitted, however, that the Colin Carr/Lee Luvisi performances also are well recorded but in my view, their playing lacks some of the sparkle of this offering. So many CDs published are lacking this essential balance but not this one. Whilst the stylised cover illustration is rather quaint and very dated, the recording quality is bang up to the minute.

Gyorgy Sebok and Janos Starker have collaborated in a number of recordings and this is amongst the best. Sebok is a very accomplished pianist and Starker's characteristically strong (almost bold) approach is well suited to the material which by Brahmsian standards, in places is unusually contemplative - even wistful - yet still possessing the hallmarks of his assertive style. The Mendelssohn second Sonata also is excellent - a pity that it was not possible to include the first Mendelssohn 'cello Sonata as well.

Musically, this is a first class offering as might be expected of these consummate instrumentalists but in my view its chief virtue is the piano/'cello balance which is quite excellent; so often the 'cello is overwhelmed to the point of inaudibility by 9 feet of Steinway.

Highly recommended.

this is one of the best albums that i have heard on brahms over any other recordings of the prominent cellists