John Tavener: The Protecting Veil/Britten: Cello Suite 3 - Steven

John Tavener (Composer), Benjamin Britten (Composer), Gennady Rozhdestvensky (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Gennady Rozhdestvensky
• Composer: John Tavener, Benjamin Britten
• Audio CD (September 12, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Classics
• ASIN: B000F3T378
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,289 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Protecting Veil, for cello & orchestra: The Protecting Veil

2. The Protecting Veil, for cello & orchestra: The Nativity of the Mother of God

3. The Protecting Veil, for cello & orchestra: The Annunciation

4. The Protecting Veil, for cello & orchestra: The Incarnation

5. The Protecting Veil, for cello & orchestra: The Lament of the Mother of God at the Cross

6. The Protecting Veil, for cello & orchestra: The Resurrection

7. The Protecting Veil, for cello & orchestra: The Dormition

8. The Protecting Veil, for cello & orchestra: The Protecting Veil

9. Suite for solo cello No. 3, Op. 87: Introduzione: Lento

10. Suite for solo cello No. 3, Op. 87: Marcia: Allegro

11. Suite for solo cello No. 3, Op. 87: Canto: Con moto

12. Suite for solo cello No. 3, Op. 87: Dialogo: Allegretto

13. Suite for solo cello No. 3, Op. 87: Fuga: Andante espressivo

14. Suite for solo cello No. 3, Op. 87: Moto perpetuo: Presto

15. Suite for solo cello No. 3, Op. 87: Passacaglia: Lento solenne

16. Suite for solo cello No. 3, Op. 87: Mournful Song (Under the Little Apple Tree): Molto semplice

17. Suite for solo cello No. 3, Op. 87: Autumn: Vivace

18. Suite for solo cello No. 3, Op. 87: Street Song (The Grey Eagle): Pesante

19. Suite for solo cello No. 3, Op. 87: Grant repose together with the saints: Lento

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Profoundly musical performances by Isserlis, December 5, 2011

By 

Scriabinmahler (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Tavener: The Protecting Veil/Britten: Cello Suite 3 - Steven (Audio CD)

I bought this CD only for Britten's 3rd cello suite to compliment Rostropovich's recording of 1st & 2nd suites. Isserlis' playing is no less captivating. He digs deep into the heart of Britten's music and gives profoundly musical performance of the 3rd suite.

John Tavener's Cello Concerto 'The Protecting Veil' is also played with genuine emotional involvement and deeply expressive tones. As for the music, I just can not appreciate it even after many play-backs. The opening theme tries desperately to develop and meanders through various harmonies and modulations, but inexplicably fails to capture the inspiration and remains where it started after 40 minutes or so.

That lack of inspiration is more acutely felt, in contrast to Britten's amazing ability to weave rich tapestries of music from a simple theme. I'd rather want all three of Britten's unaccompanied cello suites played by Isserlis on one disc than the only one of them sandwiched between Tavener's curiously earth-bound compositions.