Rostropovich, Master Cellist [Original recording remastered]

Antonin Dvorak (Composer), Robert Schumann (Composer), Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Alexander Glazunov (Composer), Sergey Rachmaninov (Composer), Frederic Chopin (Composer), Franz [Vienna] Schubert (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Gennady Rozhdestvensky (Conductor), Mstislav Rostropovich (Conductor), Seiji Ozawa (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Boston Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Alexander Dedyuhkin (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Alexander Dedyuhkin
• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Mstislav Rostropovich, Seiji Ozawa
• Composer: Antonin Dvorak, Robert Schumann, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Alexander Glazunov, Sergey Rachmaninov, et al.
• Audio CD (April 2, 2002)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000062R5A
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,407 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Mstislav Rostropovich's 75th birthday is the occasion for this two-disc set of prime recordings by the protean artist. The Dvorák Concerto with Karajan's overrefined conducting, one of the better of the cellist's five recordings of this masterpiece, is not as lively as his version with Ozawa or as idiomatic as his early recording with Talich and the Czech Philharmonic in monophonic sound. The Schumann Concerto, here with Rozhdestvensky and the Leningrad Philharmonic, is incisively Romantic, but disciplined and done with a ravishing tone, vividly recorded. It's superior to his later, indulgent version with Bernstein. The charming short pieces by Tchaikovsky and Glazunov are also irresistible for Rostropovich's gorgeous playing. Disc two partners him in solo pieces with pianist Alexander Dedyukhin, the centerpiece being Rachmaninov's Sonata, overflowing with lovely melodies played to the hilt by the cellist. The shorter works include transcriptions, perfect encore fare perfectly played. This set is a feast for Rostropovich's fans. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rostropovich at 75 - A Look Back, September 18, 2003

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rostropovich, Master Cellist (Audio CD)

To celebrate the 75th year of the birth of cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, the various labels he recorded with over his illustrious career have issued several excellent collections. EMI outdid themselves by issuing, among other sets, the breathtaking 13-CD box set "The Russian Years," featuring rare recordings and numerous premieres made by Rostropovich during his tenure behind the Iron Curtain. That set's a hard one to match, but the two-disc "Master Cellist: Legendary Recordings 1956-78" comes close. What it lacks in quantity, "Master Cellist" makes up for in quality. It contains arguably the single best recording ever made of the Dvorak Cello Concerto (with von Karajan), an excellent Schumann Concerto, and stunning shorter works for cello and orchestra by Tchaikovsky and Glazunov. These are legendary accounts for sure, but no big deal to most serious collectors because they are, or have been, previously available on CD. But what made me trade in my DG Originals disc of the Dvorak Concerto, and get "Master Cellist" was disc two of this set. It features four glorious works for cello and piano, never before released on CD, with Slava's long-time collaborator, pianist Alexander Dedyukhin. They are all, along with the Rach Sonata, quite simply sublime. Rostropovich will sadly not live another 75 years, but his legacy will live on for at least that long thanks to magical recordings like these.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great compilation of recordings, January 21, 2008

By 

Annie (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rostropovich, Master Cellist (Audio CD)

I bought this cd a while ago. Even if you are familiar with these pieces/own another version of them, getting this version is well worth the money.
The quality of the recording is excellent, cd quality.

Quality of playing:
In my opinion Rostropovich is one of the best cellists that ever lived, and is my favorite cellist in most respects. His playing is technically clean and clear, while still being extremely musical. I know everyone has different opinions, but for what it's worth I am a cello performance major. Although not all musicians will agree with my views, a huge number agree that Rostropovich is WELL worth the listen and was one of the best cellists of his time.

Repetoire:
This cd has several key pieces from standard cello repetoire. The Dvorak and Schumann Concertos are both beautifully written, very lush and passionate.
All of the pieces on the cd are either well known or well worth the listen, in my opinion. To have a compilation of all these pieces is well worth the 15 dollars (the price when I'm writing this review anyways, personally I'd pay double that much if I had to, and it would still be worth it)

Overall: well worth the buy

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rostropovich stands out like a dazzling star, May 19, 2007

By 

Michael T. Kelly - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rostropovich, Master Cellist (Audio CD)

As difficult a period as the 20th century was ... and all the more so in the soviet union -- Rostropovich stands out like a dazzling star. He represented some the finest levels of musical art that man can achieve -- a triumph of the human spirit.

In the 21st century in the western world, we are witness to the decline of the art form known as "classical music"... with nothing comparable or better on the horizon to replace it. As the 6 billion people of the earth, soon to be 9 billion, struggle for light and space ... there are ominous reverberations in the arts.

Thank God the few of us left who love this music have recordings of men like Rostopovitch ... always with the hope that the fire will be passed on to new generations of performers and composers who will catch the spirit and breath new life into the world.