Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky / Karajan, Rostropovich,

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Mstislav Rostropovich is the world's greatest cellist, and he has actually made at least five recordings of this greatest of all cello concertos. I have a certain preference for his later version, with Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra on Erato. This version has long been a prime recommendation, and in this new remastering at mid-price, it's an even better deal now. Herbert von Karajan accompanies with his usual expertise, and the Tchaikovsky performance is quite simply the finest around. This concerto is one of those pieces of which you'll want to have five or six copies. Just make sure this is one of them. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Allegro
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Finale. Allegro Moderato
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In A Minor: Nicht Zu Schnell
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In A Minor: Langsam
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In A Minor: Sehr Lebhaft
Andante Cantabile Op. Posth. For Cello And String Orchestra: Andante Cantabile Op. Posth.
Chand Du Menstrel Op. 71 For Cello And Orchestra: Chant Du Menestrel

Tracks:

Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Lento - Allegro Moderato
Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Allegro Scherzando
Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Andante
Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Allegro Mosso
Introduction And Polonaise Brillante For Cello And Piano In C Major Op.3: Introduction And Polonaise Brillante For Cello And Piano In C Major
Vocalise Op.34 No.14: Vocalise
Impromptu In G Flat Major D 899 No.3: Impromptu In G Flat Major
Kinderszenen Op.5 No.7 Scenes From Childhood: Traumerei - Dreaming

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:

Rostropovich stands out like a dazzling star.......2007-05-20

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.

The flight of no return!.......2007-05-02

This genius of the cello left us April 27th. For the recent music newcomers this name is synonymous of a talented musician, but Rostropovich meant for the music much more than a privileged and sheer artist. His multiple activities as soloist performer and conductor ranked such historical achievements that hardly could be resumed in this little note.

His loss is extremely significant, due he embodied the goal of a total artist. Reader, thinker, and always worried by his country, he knew about so many unsaid details of the missed U.R.S.S, and his narrow collaboration with Dimitri Shostakovich make of him a essential part of the musical History of the last Century With his departure a cycle ends. Fortunately his enormous musical bequeath stand out through the years to come, as striking evidence of his egregious talent.

Hail and farewell!

Rostropovich at 75 - A Look Back.......2003-09-19

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.

Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky / Karajan, Rostropovich,

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Wonderful, just shy of the magic created with Ozawa
Dvorak: Cello Concerto / Rostropovich
Rostropovich's legacy made through this recording
Not the best version of the Dvorák concerto with Slava
Amazingly beautiful music

Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky / Karajan, Rostropovich,

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001GQ8
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor, Op. 104: 1. Allegro
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor, Op. 104: 2. Adagio ma non troppo
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor, Op. 104: 3. Finale: Allegro moderato
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op. 33: Moderato quasi Andante
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op. 33: Tema. Moderato semplice
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op. 33: Variazione I. Tempo del Tema
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op. 33: Variazione II. Tempo del Tema
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op. 33: Variazione III. Andante sostenuto
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op. 33: Variazione IV. Andante grazioso
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op. 33: Variazione V. Allegro moderato
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op. 33: Variazione VI. Andante
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op. 33: Variazione VII. Allegro vivo

Amazon.com essential recording

Mstislav Rostropovich is the world's greatest cellist, and he has actually made at least five recordings of this greatest of all cello concertos. I have a certain preference for his later version, with Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra on Erato. This version has long been a prime recommendation, and in this new remastering at mid-price, it's an even better deal now. Herbert von Karajan accompanies with his usual expertise, and the Tchaikovsky performance is quite simply the finest around. This concerto is one of those pieces of which you'll want to have five or six copies. Just make sure this is one of them. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful, just shy of the magic created with Ozawa.......2007-06-06

This is, undoubtedly, the reference recording of the Rococo Variations. However, the concerto is more a matter of taste. This has long been the reference edition of the concerto and rightfully so - Karajan and Rostropovich create magic in this recording. Rostropovich brings his typical expertise to the music and Karajan follows suite with a warm, sensitive accompaniment. Still, I have a particular preference for the Ozawa/Boston Symphony performance on Erato. Rostropovich does the seemingly impossible by mustering even more energy for that performance, building a first movement that cannot be bettered. The finale hangs fire while the slow central movement finds the introspective Rostropovich delivering an interpretation of touching beauty. The timbral qualities of the Boston Symphony are more suited to this music, free from the heavy, creamy sound typical of Karajan's Berlin Philharmonic. It's nit-picky, and the Rococo Variations under Ozawa aren't quite as fun, but for the concerto, stick with the digital Erato recording.

Dvorak: Cello Concerto / Rostropovich.......2007-05-13

No one has ever matched Rostropovich's rendition of the Dvorak Cello Concerto. It is an immense treasure in the cello literature. Naturally, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Karajan completes this outstanding recording.

Rostropovich's legacy made through this recording.......2007-05-01

Along with the old mono recording of the Shostakovich Concerto No. 1 released in 1959 shortly after the concerto was written, this recording of the Dvorak Cello Concerto, released in 1969, is what essentially created the Rostropovich legend. It was only one of two cello concerto recordings to make Gramophone magaziens reader list of top 100 recordings of the 20th century.

In that regard, it was the only recording I voted for in the Gramophone poll that was represented in the top 100 recordings of the 20th century (the top recording was Solti's Ring followed by Elgar's cello concerto from DuPre, something only a Brit would think of as one of the two best recordings of the 20th century.)

Both conductor (Karajan) and soloist were reaching the peak of their existence after this legendary recording arrived. Having heard the soloists on a number of poorly recorded Soviet LPs of the St. Saens, Dvorak and other concerti (Rostropovich disdained the Elgar), this recording, which was one of the most technically advanced of its era, showed everyone why this cellist was an artist to reckon.

What Rostropovich and DG engineers exposed in 1969 (when DG was still called DGG) was his stupendous technique and the volume of sound he could create using only the solo instrument. Yes, miking and recordings technology had something to do with this, but anyone that knew Rostropovich or heard him play in concert would attest that his sound was bigger than anyone else's. A cellist once explained to me that this was probably the result of the strings he chose, which would have the greatest alteration on sound.

Needless to say, that sound still bursts forth in this recording, which will soon pass onto its fourth decade. For years it was universally selected as the top recommendation in this repertoire above players like Gendron, Fournier, Piatagorsky, Rose, Tortelier and even the more legendary Casals. No one had ever heard a sound like this cellist made, which was even more enhanced by his elegaic playing in the Tchaikovsky variations that accompany the concerto.

Karajan, too, was still in ascension in the 1960s. His position in Europe was similar to Leonard Bernstein's role in North America, where the two kingpins regularly jet setted around the world to enterain audiences in London, Vienna, New York and Berlin. This is clearly one of the greatest recordings ever made and nothing that has happened since will diminish that. If you want to hear what made Rostropovish famous worldwide, buy this recording.

Not the best version of the Dvorák concerto with Slava.......2007-03-02

Review of the Dvorák concerto only.

This could have been the one of the best recordings of Dvorak's cello concerto available, if the conductor had been replaced. Despite his reputation, Karajan is - as too often is the case - the wrong man for conducting a demanding, powerful, lyrical masterpiece. The orchestra is excellent and Slava's concentrated and beautiful playing is of course impeccable - five stars and beyond for that - but Karajan's clinical "Blitzkrieg" approach prevents the lyrical humanism of this music to blossom. Perhaps the man never could stop thinking about how to eventually realize his seriously distorted ideological convictions - and thus he could never become really involved in the true humanism of music. In fact, comparing this version with Slava's other stereo recordings (i.e., with Boult, Giulini, and Ozawa) of this work suggests that the cellist could not really develop his deep understanding during these sessions. Karajan's streamlined, bandwagon view of music and Slava's lyrical humanism seem to belong to different worlds.

Now, as already indicated, there is a bunch of other recordings with Slava and the Dvorák concerto. We have three other stereo recordings, one with Boult (Testament), one with Giulini (EMI) and one with Ozawa (Erato). Furter, there are four mono recordings: with Khaikin (Revelation or Yedang); with Talich (Supraphon), which was Slava's first recording of the concerto. Finally, there is the famous 1968 concert with Svetlanov (BBC Legends) and a broadcats concerto with Ancerl in Toronto (Tahra).

How does the present recording stand in comparison with these other recordings? The performance with Carlo Maria Giulini and London Philharmonic Orchestra (EMI) is good but not great, but the recording quality is outstanding. Ozawa's interpretation (Erato), which came even later, also in stereo, is not entirely convincing, lacking in Bohemian temperament, but the recording and playing are fine here too. Finally, the early Boult (Testament) is an excellent, warm, and structured interpretation, but in vintage stereo sound. But it should not be left out for that reason. We get a different perspective from Boult, less "passionate" and more structured, so to speak. In fact, I hold the Boult recording to be the best of all Slava's performances, stereo or mono. In contrast to the present account, where the stiff and stylish accompaniment don't fit the cellist's vision, that powerful performance will move you to tears and blow your mind.

But the studio mono recordings with Khaikin and Talich are also both of great interest. But in my view, Slava's first recording with Talich holds a special place, because both playing and interpretation are first class. The interpretation is far more controlled than Giulini's more lyrical approach, and avoids von Karajan's extremes. Yes, it is a mono recording, but that's fine with me. Khaikin's recording is very fine too, even if it is not as convincing as Talich's.

Finally, the two live mono recordings - Svetlanov and Ancerl - are also very memorable. But of these two, I rank Ancerl before Svetlanov, because of the former's superb grasp of the score.

In sum, I rank the Slava-Dvorák recordings, that I am familiar with, as follows: I. Boult, 2. Talich, 3. Ancerl, 4. Svetlanov, 5. Khaikin, 6. Giulini, 7. Ozawa, 9. Karajan.

In sum, this recording doesn't replace Boult's, which offers a more tautly structured approach, not as "overblown" as von Karajan's, Giulini's, and Ozawa's. But check Slava/Talich and Slava/Ancerl if you look for two other great Slava interpretations. And then there are of course other great cellists to consider, in both stereo and in mono: Fournier (DG, stereo), and Casals (Naxos, EMI, Dutton - mono). My advice is that you should have at least one of these too.

(Karajan's fanatical admirers will not appreciate this review. But my advice to you is to try other recordings - there is a world beyond von Karajan.)

Amazingly beautiful music.......2006-12-06

This is a lovely piece of music. Really. You listen to this, and it's like, WOW. That's just beautiful. Because it really is. The cello part is nice and pretty, and like almost all Dvorak, it's exciting and bold. Dvorak has a very distinct style, and quite frankly, he's extremely talented. His music, including this, is wonderful. It starts out sort of quieter, and then you get slammed with something that just takes your breath away. How often can you actually say that about music?

The thing is, I like this piece of music. I like the sound. It's things like these that make me adore Dvorak, because there's just so much feeling and intensity. There's a sort of quality that just makes me love it. And I'm sure you'll love it too, is the thing.

So getting the general music out of the way, the playing here is also incredible. The sound quality is surprisingly good and the music sounds great. Every sudden burst of volume is powerful and pretty at the same time. Rostropovich plays really well and everything is just so nice.

The Tchaikovsky is also very nice. It's a nice little bonus alongside the main gem that is the cello concerto. With this wonderful recording and playing, the price shouldn't even matter, though I guess that it only helps that this is surprisingly cheap. It's a superb deal that I recommend whole-heartedly. It's a great CD that can be listened to at any time.

Buy it!

The Glory of Rostropovich: 80th Birthday Tribute

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The Glory of Rostropovich: 80th Birthday Tribute

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000M05VP2
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Le violoncelle du siècle

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000241D7
Release Date: 1997-01-01

Tracks:

Suite For Cello In G Major, Bwv1007
12 Variations For Cello And Piano On The Theme 'Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen'
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra No.1 In C Major - Iii. Mvmnt.
Cello Concerto In B Minor, Op.104 - Ii. Adagio
Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op.33 - I. Allegro
Cello Concerto In A Minor - Ii. Langsam
Cello Concerto In A Minor - Iii. Sehr Lebhaft
Concerto For Violin, Cello And Orchestra In A Minor, Op.102 - Iii. Finale
Variations On A Theme Rococo In A Major, Op.33
Sonata For Cello And Piano No.2 In F Major, Op.99 - Ii.Adagio
Symphony Concertante For Cello & Orchestra In E Minor, Op.125 - Iii.
Suite For Cello No.1 Op.72 - Vi. Moto Perpetuo
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Bachianas Brasileiras No.1 For Cello And Orchestra - Ii. Prelude
Chanson Russe, Extr.De Mavra
Cello Concerto No.1 In E Flat Major, Op.107 - I.Allegretto

Dvorak: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations [LP Sleeve] [Japan]

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Dvorak: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations [LP Sleeve] [Japan]
Mstislav Rostropovich , and Karajan & Bpo
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001FADHO
Release Date: 2006-12-18

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104; Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

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Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104; Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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