Customer Reviews

Cello Concerto Op 85 / Cello Concerto Op 104

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contrary to popular opinion, i think this recording of the elgar cello concerto is the best one will ever hear. Navarra, who i think is underrated gives a sizzling performance that will leave one awed. Like the more famous recording by du Pré, the conductor is Sir john barbirolli, who i think is unparalled in this repertoire. The first movement is passionate and swaying, but navarra is able to steer away from over-indulging. The second movement is incredibly clean and sparkling, the third is simple and delightful, but by far the best is the fourth movement, and this is where conductor and cellist triumph, esp. in the accompanied "cadenza" section. Barbirolli's conducting of the Halle orchestra is much better than his later recording with du Pre, and Andre Navarra gives the performance of a lifetime.
The dvorak concerto features the technical prowess that navarra demonstrates in the elgar, (listen to those octaves at the climax of the development!!!!), but the orchestral accompaniment, though fine, does not evoke the flair and range of emotion necessary, as barbirolli does so convincingly in the elgar.
For all cellists, one should heed how carefully but intensely navarra phrases, as well as his spine-tingling virtuosity. Bravo Navarra!

If I had only one recording of these works for the desert island, I KNOW it would be this one!

There is enough instruction on virtuosity at the service of the music, bow control and sheer
inspiration to make these performances "new" and riveting every time I hear them.

Of course, this will be controversial. There are many great recordings of these works by many
artists I love, so I don't want to be forced to make that decision. But, regardless of the
various comments about orchestras and conductors by others, these performances are evidence of the magic when everything comes together. The Dvorak was part of quickly, but well made recordings for the U.S. market by Capitol. Underneath some sometimes rough playing (so what do you want in Dvorak, by the way?) Rudolf Schwarz's strong leadership stays right with the intensity of Navarra's playing. It is the mono sound (actually very good, by the way) which tends to keep it from reaching the full color one would ideally like. Both pieces are rich
in orchestral playing, detail, and style if you really listen. You may want to cut your treble
back a bit to take some edge off of Testament's equalization.

How fortunate we are to be able to hear Dvorak and Elgar in idiomatic versions caught by the
microphone just before the self-indulgent star versions (good and interesting as they may be)
became the norm. Navarra and his colleagues bring us back to the world these
pieces were conceived in.

This cd, and Nathan Milstein playing the Goldmark Violin Concerto 1, also on Testament, represent
sessions which were caught quickly, with little editing, and are pure magic...just as riveting
and full of musical originality and intensity as they were on the day they were made!


Don't miss this!

While it is true that Navarra's Elgar with Barbirolli rivals the great Du Pre version, also with Barbirolli, the Dvorak coupling with Schwarz leading the National Symphony Orchestra is quite extraordinary. Navarra has just the right combination of strength and poetic tenderness to capture all the moods of this great work. After listening to DuPre/Celibidache, Casals/Szell and Fournier/Szell for several years, I have come to prefer this recording by Navarra/Schwarz as my favorite -- and the sound is excellent.