Customer Reviews

Haydn: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yo-Yo Ma and the English Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of José Luis Garcia, have produced what must be the most beautiful recording ever made of Franz Joseph Haydn's well-known Cello Concerto Number 1 in C Major (H 7b no 1). I've heard this work performed many times by many soloists and ensembles, often beautifully, but never better than on this recording. Every note that flows from Ma's bow is exquisitely formed. His phrasing is sensitive and deeply expressive, and he certainly is not afraid to take risks. The interpretation is fresh, dramatic, and daringly original. The orchestra's contribution is perfectly complementary. Yo-Yo Ma and the English Chamber Orchestra have breathed new life into this sometimes tired old chestnut. Warning: You may want to throw out all your other recordings of this concerto once you've heard this one. It's the best.

As a young cellist, I found this to be an extremely beautiful recording of the two concertos. I really enjoyed Ma's phrasings in the C Major, which are quite different from, say, Rostropovich's recording of the same. I also found his use of dynamics to be outstanding. The contrasts are there, but not overly emphasized (as many performers do to pieces from this period). An outstanding buy.

Maybe this is a case of an opinion being forever formed by the first recording I heard of two pieces I love. Ma is a true virtuoso, but compared to Du Pre's recordings from the late '60's and early 70's with Barenboim and Barbirolli, he seems so restrained. You can argue that the choice to have the cello more integrated with the orchestra is more in the classical rather than romantic mode, so Ma is perhaps being more faithful to Haydn. But I think when you hear the solo notes leap like electricity from Du Pre's instrument, you won't care. There's a passion and fire in Du Pre's performances that seems lacking behing Ma's immaculate but somewhat thin sound. So overall these performances of Ma left me a little dissatisfied. A good second choice, but still a second choice.

i don't find ma's sound "immaculate but thin" at all. i find it well integrated with the orchestra and and immensely powerful. i highly recommend this recording. the concerto in C is a treasure.

Somebody at amazoo headquarters should get the Pulitzer this year, for proving what many have always suspected, i.e. that Yo-yo Ma is really an avatar of Mstislav Rostropovich! The evidence is here; while the CD being offered for sale clearly shows a picture of Ma, the samples and the MP3 feature the playing of Rostropovich. (Be careful, hasty shoppers! This confusion happens altogether too often chez amazon.)

In any case, neither performance is worthy of being your first choice. The recent recording of concertos 1 & 2 by Jean-Guihen Queyras is a revelation of glory; Queyras plays the socks, pants, and shirt off any other cellist except Isserlis, who gets to keep his shirt.

If you thought you loved these joyous musical masterpieces you have only scratched the surface, until you hear the Yo-Yo Ma performances. He is beyond human. If music is God's language, Yo-Yo Ma is God's messenger.

Everyone should be so lucky as to hear these beautiful concertos. This is my 'go-to' CD and it's definitely a mood-elevator. Yo Yo Ma is a master of the cello, of course and the only problem with the CD is that it doesn't play all afternoon! Even with all the bad news and trials of today it really makes me feel as though the world is going to be OK after all.

Wonderful performance but the remastered sound is a little muddy. I would not let the audio put me off buying the disc however.

I'm not very familiar with these concerti, but I think that this is a fine performance, wonderfully recorded. People can spend hours arguing over who performs it better, whether it's Rostropovich, Casals, Du Pre, Starker, whatever. They usually resort to highly personal and more-or-less improvised language, feeble attempts to describe what is really a very complex style and personality. They are all different performers with a different sense of color. I'm sure the other performances of these concerti are wonderful as well. This, though, is a great recording also.

the music was outstanding and was presented by a master. anyone who loves cello music will love this album and the way it i presented.