Brahms: The Two Cello Sonatas by Jacqueline du Pre and Daniel Barenboim

Johannes Brahms (Artist), Jacqueline du Pré (Artist), Daniel Barenboim (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 7, 1990)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002S1G
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,067 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Jacqueline du Pré and Daniel Barenboim were married in 1967. One of the first things they did as a couple was make this recording of the Brahms sonatas (when it was finished, in 1968, Du Pré was only 23, Barenboim an old man of 25). Their collaboration is an intense one, both in the dark, melancholy E minor work and in the passionate F major sonata, which receives a fulminant performance here, even if its scherzo sounds rather elephantine. Du Pré is quite rough much of the time, but her tone is huge and she wrings incredible expression out of every gesture; Barenboim is musically and sonically in the background, which under the circumstances is fine. Excellently remastered, though at a high level, the analog recording has striking immediacy and depth. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo!, January 29, 2000

By 

Christopher Finezeo (Paramus, New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brahms: The Two Cello Sonatas by Jacqueline du Pre and Daniel Barenboim (Audio CD)

As per usuale, Jacqueline du Pre *wow'd* my ears with her gripping, soulful interpretation of both Brahms sonatas. If Brahms himself could hear this recording, I am sure he'd think his sonatas found their finest interpretation. du Pre is dazzling, unbridled and in her finest form. Paired with her 1712 Stradavarius, another musical hallmark made for a career cut short by tragedy.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How could it be any better?, December 23, 2002

By 

rubidium84 (Ft. Calhoun, NE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brahms: The Two Cello Sonatas by Jacqueline du Pre and Daniel Barenboim (Audio CD)

This might be the most emotional piece of music that I have ever heard, a must for any fan of these instruments or this period. And listen to the passion that Jaqueline du Pre wrings out of her Cello - I don't know of any way to make this a better interpretation. And Barenboim is just as fantastic, bringing to the accompaniment's usually secondary role a masterful command of tone. Like all chamber works, this one deserves to be played LOUDLY, if only so you can pick up every nuance of their expression.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Chamber Music from Brahms; Available as a Reissue, October 10, 2005

By 

Al Chartreux (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brahms: The Two Cello Sonatas by Jacqueline du Pre and Daniel Barenboim (Audio CD)

This performance of Brahms' cello sonatas is a testament to the wonderful musical partnership that existed between Jacqueline du Pré and Daniel Barenboim. It's also enjoyable chamber music by Brahms, a composer who - let's face it - can be somewhat challenging and difficult to digest, even for experienced classical music listeners. As an aside, I would point out that this CD was reissued by EMI in 2004; type "B0001O3Y8K" into the search field to find it. At the time of this writing, it's selling for $11.98.