Customer Reviews

Dvorak & Saint-Saens: Cello Concertos, etc

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This is a wonderful disc. The short pieces are enthralling - and very individually done, with, for example, a very slow but beautifully sustained tempo for 'Vocalise'. The Saint-Saens is brisk, lively, dramatic and full of character. The prize of the collection, though, is this lovely version of the Dvorak. Here. Rosropovitch lingers a bit less than in later performances (e.g. the famous, but rather plummy one with Karajan) and the music seems better - stronger and more symphonic - for it. Nothing is perfunctory, with the gentler lyrical passages beautifully phrased, but the whole thing always moves forward and has a constant sense of purpose, of 'going somewhere'. It's riveting. Recordings are good for their age and fully enjoyable. Much recommended.

This fine Testament issue boasts a remastered release of Mstislav Rostropovich's first stereo recording of Dvorák's Cello concerto, op. 104, originally released by EMI in 1957. At the conductor's rostrum, Sir Adrian Boult leads an impressive orchestra - the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, at its very peak. Boult's interpretation of the orchestral part is second to none: it's a very taut, balanced interpretation, very different from the later excesses by von Karajan (DG) and Ozawa (Erato). Thoughtful and controlled, but with perfect understanding of the work's structure, to hear Boult's interpretation is like hearing this concerto for the first time. Thus Slava's warm, lyrical tone is in far better company here than elsewhere - perhaps with the exception of Talich's magisterial account (Supraphon), which also is an unforgettable performance.

Sound is vintage but very fine. The cello is in the front, and the orchestral details are well recorded.

This recording also features Slava's first stereo recording of Saint-Saëns' cello concerto (1956), now under Malcolm Sargent's baton, conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra. That performance is also of great interest, because it's Slava's finest account of this work, and it's recorded in vintage stereo sound.

In addition, we are also offered a selection of minor pieces for cello and piano, with Slava and Alexander Dedyukhin: David Popper's "Dance of the Elves"; Debussy's "Minstrels" and "Clair de lune"; Scrabin's "Étude op. 8 no. 11"; and Rachmaninov's "Vocalise". These memorable sessions are recorded in mono.

Thus this recording offers maximum value for your money. You get an outstanding performance in fine sound. If you only want one of Slava's recordings of the Dvorák concerto, grab this one. I recommend it warmly. But if sound is not an issue, consider also Slava's first recording of this concerto with Talich.

I really have little to add to what has been said all ready. After listening to several other versions, including du Pre's excellent one, this is my favorite. From its simple beginning strains it gathers power and grace, and in its finale carries you into heaven. Simply sublime.

There's very little that I can add to what has already been said. However, out of my 500+ CD collection, only about 20 slots on a separate shelf qualify to be called the best. Not amazingly, David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Narciso Yepes fill that tiny area. I rate this particular CD as being tied for first and second place with a David Oistrakh CD, the Beethoven and Sibelius violin concerti, that is also on the "Testament" label. If it were possible for me to give six stars for this CD, I certainly would do so. IMHO, No collection is complete until this CD and Oistrakh's are in it.