Elgar, Walton: Cello Concertos

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Elgar's Cello Concerto gives most British listeners the "weepies," associated as it is with the life of the late Jacqueline Du Pré, who played it magnificently. That doesn't mean, however, that there isn't room for other interpretations, especially when they are as fine as this one. The coupling, Walton's brittle, bittersweet concerto for cello and orchestra, is both logical and nicely contrasting. Check out Ma's quicksilver fingerwork in the zippy middle movement for a truly dazzling virtuoso display. You may not forget Du Pré, but this is one of Ma's best recordings nevertheless. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Cello Concerto, Op. 85: I - Adagio; Moderato, II - Lento; Allegro molto - London SO; Previn, A.
Cello Concerto, Op. 85: III - Adagio
Cello Concerto, Op. 85: IV - Allegro
Concerto For Cello & Orchestra: I - Moderato
Concerto For Cello & Orchestra: II - Allegro Appassionato
Concerto For Cello & Orchestra: III - Lento

Amazon.com essential recording

Elgar's Cello Concerto gives most British listeners the "weepies," associated as it is with the life of the late Jacqueline Du Pré, who played it magnificently. That doesn't mean, however, that there isn't room for other interpretations, especially when they are as fine as this one. The coupling, Walton's brittle, bittersweet concerto for cello and orchestra, is both logical and nicely contrasting. Check out Ma's quicksilver fingerwork in the zippy middle movement for a truly dazzling virtuoso display. You may not forget Du Pré, but this is one of Ma's best recordings nevertheless. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

great elgar.......2005-10-09

This version of the Elgar is very well done. I really like the way Ma played this piece and the orchestra is fine. The Walton is less to my liking but certainly on a technical basis (recording quality and musicianship) I have no complaints about this version. I thought the recording quality was overall very good although on a couple of occasions I hear artifactual noises. Recommended for the Elgar.

The Best Digital Recording Of Elgar's Cello Concerto.......2001-12-19

Ma gives passionate performances of both Elgar's and Walton's cello concertos, worthy of recognition for both his brilliant technical skills as well as his lyrical playing. I believe I have heard a recent recording of these works with Julian Lloyd Webber as soloist; unfortunately, Webber's playing doesn't resound with the passion coming from Ma. I don't know whether Ma's interpretation of Elgar is better than Du Pre's, but it is still wonderful in its own right (Yet I would not go as far as one previous reviewer in recognizing Ma as our finest living cellist; that honor still belongs to Rostropovich.). Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra give warm, spirited performances of both works, showing their familiarity with these scores.

This is how it started.......2000-08-04

This Ma performance of the Elgar lets you in on what it was like before the artist started playing the work too much and subjecting it to so many maulings and stages it got sickening. Here we find him sticking fairly close to the composer, and Previn is enough of a disciplinarian that the work's structure as a whole isn't sacrificed to maudlin detail. We get a good, solid, committed, communicative performance, something Ma hasn't been giving us too much lately. If you heard that awful PBS concert of this with the Chicago and Barenboim joining Ma in all the posturing, you'll find this quite refreshing. It won't make you want to junk your supremely eloquent and heartfelt Tortelier, though. And if you're old enough to have the Anthony Pini's around, you're not tossing it either. Some things just can't be bettered.

The Walton here is very fine, wonderfully played, with color, insight, spritz and tingle. Ma gives it an appropriate, straight-ahead freshness that only adds to its stature as one of the greatest works for the instrument. I won't trade in my Piatagorsky, but I'll keep this around as a very good-sounding alternative.

Overall, this is a very worthwhile release which shows honestly why Ma gained all his celebrity.

Best of the Digital Era.......2000-04-21

After DuPre's performance of the Elgar cello concerto (EMI/Angel), this is my next favorite performance. It boasts first class digital sound, a conductor and orchestra highly experienced in this kind of repertory, and the man who is arguably the best living cellist. It is less extroverted and fierce than the DuPre, but played with a deep, soulful insight into the music; everyone involved obviously felt the deep sorrow and longing in this music when they made this recording.

Average customer rating:

Elgar, Walton: Cello Concertos

Manufacturer: Orfeo
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000FUF92E
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Elgar, Walton: Cello Concertos; Delius: Caprice and Elegy

Average customer rating:

Elgar, Walton: Cello Concertos; Delius: Caprice and Elegy

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003FHF
Release Date: 1997-06-17

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