Strauss: Don Quixote; Schumann: Cello Concerto / Rostropovich, Karajan, et al [Original recording remastered]

Robert Schumann (Composer), Richard [1] Strauss (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Performer), Orchestre National de France (Orchestra), Ulrich Koch (Performer), Herbert von Karajan (Artist), Leonard Bernstein (Artist), Mstislav Rostropovich (Artist), Berlin Philharmonic (Artist)

Product Details

• Performer: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Ulrich Koch
• Orchestra: Orchestre National de France
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Robert Schumann, Richard [1] Strauss
• Audio CD (March 9, 1999)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00000I7WC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #154,829 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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• This item is part of The Great Recordings of the Century Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Whenever Karajan and Rostropovich teamed up, great things happened. In 1975, they recorded what many still consider the consummate Don Quixote, a richly characterized, brilliantly played account of what is probably Strauss's best tone poem. Rostropovich's command of the solo part is overwhelming, but even more impressive is the imagination he brings to the reading, in particular his identification with the poignant, crazed side of the old knight's character. The Berliners produce a veritable rainbow of orchestral color behind him, and Karajan, as usual, is firmly in control of pacing and balance. The vivid sound of this new remastering--part of EMI's "Great Recordings of the Century" series--and a generous coupling make this a disc to covet. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just plain fantastic!, June 7, 2003

By A Customer

The recording of Strauss' Don Quixote is outstanding. Rostropovich did a wonderful job being the crazed knight and bringing the listener right into the story. Karajan does, as usual, a wonderful job keeping the Berlin Philharmonic intact. The real jewel to this CD is the Schumann Cello Concerto. The brilliant conducting my Bernstein brings out the best in Rostropovich and adds to the emotional aspect of the piece.

Buy it now!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Don Quixote by Karajan?, September 4, 2007

By	Scriabinmahler (UK) - See all my reviews

Karajan made two excellent DG recordings of Don Quixote with P.Fournier & Meneses, but personally I like this EMI recording with Rostropovich best. Rostropovich's style of playing is very appropriate for the characterisation of the knight, and the orchestra part has more urgency and grandeur helped by acoustics of Philharmonie and much emphasis on bass, even though the sound is dry and steely compared to the DG versions.

If you want truly outstanding recordings of the work, my recommendations are Reiner/Janigro RCA Living Stereo & Levine/Met Orchestra DG.

4.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Bag, August 3, 2009

By	Hegelian (Concord, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This is a great recording of Don Quixote, possibly the best ever, and by itself would merit five stars. However, the same cannot be said of the Rostropovich/Bernstein Schumann concerto, a relatively weak work to begin with, so overall, this is a mixed bag. Assuming you don't have the couplings, I would buy the 2-disc EMI set containg Karajan's equally fine accounts of Ein Heldenleben and Sinfonia Domestica.