Customer Reviews

Schumann: Cello Concerto; Chamber Music

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

 

 

In a series of pieces not often recorded, Maisky and Argerich showed their true greatness. Maisky is a genius, and he is material of some of the loveliest of Schumann's work. The CD is a gift to the music lover because of its quality and the fact that these are compositions not frequently recorded. The sensitive rendering of each of the chamber pieces is simply beautifully made music. Argerich shows, again, her great talent as an accompanist. Her work ties perfectly to the lithe, romantic style of Maisky. The concerto with Orpheus is Maisky in a tremendous display of his skills as a musician with flawless styles, and Orpheus backs him beautifully

This is yet another splendid collaboration between Argerich and Maisky which Deutsche Grammophon has done a fine job in recording. Both give lyrical, dramatic performances of these lesser known Schumann works for the cello and piano; their playing seems almost sublime, replete with much empathy and respect for each other as partners. Maisky's performance of the Schumann cello concerto with Orpheus is splendid too, though I wouldn't regard it as definitive. It lacks some of the dramatic tension I've heard in Heinrich Schiff's recording with Bernard Haitink conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. Still, fans of both Argerich and Maisky will rejoice over their latest collaboration.

This is a great CD containing terrific music. I especially enjoyed hearing the Adagio and Allegro and the 3 Fantasiestucke, which I am more used to hearing played by the clarinet. Each work is wonderful, but by the end of the CD we were "celloed out." I think it could have been better programmed with a track or two of solo piano from Martha Argerich.