Jacqueline du Pré - Beethoven: The Five Cello Sonatas, Judas Maccabaeus & Die Zauberflöte Variations

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
These 1970 performances from Jacqueline du Pré with husband Daniel Barenboim on piano are some of the late musician's best. Though Elgar's Cello Concerto is definitely du Pré's masterpiece, her take on Beethoven's Cello Sonatas are great documents that also stand the test of time. She brings her trademark warmth and a big tone to the works, especially striking in the Rondo of the second of Sonata, where she proves an equal match to her husband's passionate playing. As with many du Pré recordings, there are some inconsistent notes, but the spirit of her playing shines through. Beethoven's cello variations--included here on the tail end of disc 2--are great showpieces for du Pré and an added bonus. --Jason Verlinde

Jacqueline du Pré - Beethoven: The Five Cello Sonatas, Judas Maccabaeus & Die Zauberflöte Variations, Music, Ludwig van Beethoven, Daniel Barenboim, Jacqueline du Pré, Cello with Keyboard, Chamber, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music

Average customer rating:

Fabulous Music

Most Enjoyable, Convincing Reading of Beethoven Sonatas

Jacqueline du Pré - Beethoven: The Five Cello Sonatas, Judas Maccabaeus & Die Zauberflöte Variations
Ludwig van Beethoven , Daniel Barenboim , and Jacqueline du Pré
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Jacqueline du Pre In Portrait

Jacqueline du Pre - Favourite Cello Concertos ~ Boccherini, Dvorak, Elgar, Haydn, Monn, Saint-Saens, Schumann

Jacqueline du Pré - Chopin: Cello Sonata in G minor, Franck: Sonata in A / Barenboim

ASIN: B000002S0P
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Sonata No. 1 In F, Op. 5 No. 1: Adagio sostenuto
Sonata No. 1 In F, Op. 5 No. 1: Allegro
Sonata No. 1 In F, Op. 5 No. 1: Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 5 No. 2: Adagio sostenuto ed espressivo
Sonata No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 5 No. 2: Allegro molto pito presto
Sonata No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 5 No. 2: Rondo. (Allegro)
Sonata No. 3 In A, Op. 69: Allegro, ma non tanto
Sonata No. 3 In A, Op. 69: Scherzo. (Allegro molto)
Sonata No. 3 In A, Op. 69: Adagio cantabile - Allegro vivace

Tracks:

Andante - Allegro vivace
Adagio - Tempo d'Andante - Allegro vivace
Allegro con brio
Adagio con molto sentimento d'affetto
Allegro - Allegro fugato
Variationen WoO 45
Variationen WoO 46
Variationen op. 66

Amazon.com essential recording

These 1970 performances from Jacqueline du Pré with husband Daniel Barenboim on piano are some of the late musician's best. Though Elgar's Cello Concerto is definitely du Pré's masterpiece, her take on Beethoven's Cello Sonatas are great documents that also stand the test of time. She brings her trademark warmth and a big tone to the works, especially striking in the Rondo of the second of Sonata, where she proves an equal match to her husband's passionate playing. As with many du Pré recordings, there are some inconsistent notes, but the spirit of her playing shines through. Beethoven's cello variations--included here on the tail end of disc 2--are great showpieces for du Pré and an added bonus. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous Music.......2005-10-13

Beethoven's cello sonatas are some of the most beautiful chamber music works in the classical repertoire. They should be as well known and appreciated as the nine symphonies, in my opinion. As with the thirty-two piano sonatas, there is a wide range of emotions and feelings to be experienced here. There are plenty of good recordings of these works; Rostropovich and Richter on Philips is the reference set and also worth owning. I wouldn't say this recording is better; both discs feature great performances and make for rewarding listening. It's just nice to have a different interpretation and hear the famous du Pré-Barenboim team in action. As a final note, I would like to point out that this recording was re-released by EMI in 2005; type "B0002XV30G" in the search field and you can pick it up for the reasonable price of $11.98.

Most Enjoyable, Convincing Reading of Beethoven Sonatas.......2000-12-31

I have bought and very intently listened to recordings of theses works by Rostropovich, Ma, Fouriner and Casals. I very much appreicate the classical and noble interpretaions of Rostropovich and Fouriner, and Ma's more lively and captivating performance with its simplicity and perfect unity with Ax has been, without a doubt, my favourite of all time: until I happened to listen to the G minor Sonata(No.2) played by Du Pre and Barenboim. Given the fact that the first two sonatas were written for PIANO AND CELLO(as opposed to the latter three written for CELLO AND PIANO), the main focus of the music on piano rather than on cello so the G minor sonata couldn't be said to be the most exciting and cellistic out of the five. The melodies can easiliy sound boring and repetitive and dull, but being the most natural singer on this instrument that she is, Jacquline Du Pre makes it sound the most entertaining and beautiful piece existing on earth. The percussionic accompaniment parts are played with such vigour, and never once does she miss the opporunity to sing out in the occassional lyrical passages, making every note come alive with a strikingly beautiful and appropriate tone colour. Listening to this album is a true musical experience, each time I listen to it the pieces come through with more profundity and even more beauty. The temperament and loftiness of Beethoven seems to be the perfect match for Jacquline Du Pre.

NOTE: There is a newer issue of these sonatas plus the variations that is a lot cheaper than this set. It is one of the "double forte" series EMI has recently put out, and you can find it by the title "Beethoven: Cello Sonatas & Variations".

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Noiseworks - Greatest Hits [Import]

The Complete Columbia Masters, 1926-1928

Rachmaninov Conducts Rachmaninov

Later [Import]

The Other Side London [DualDisc]

The Contemplative Collection

The Great Yellow River

The Singular Adventures of the Style Council

Takes Off (Up Grade Version) (Dig) [Import] [Limited Edition]

Simon Trpceski Plays Rachmaninoff

Stoned Part 1 [Import]

Sandro [Limited Edition] [Import]

Singles Gala 4 [Import]

Mozart: Mass In C Major 'Coronation' K.317; Mass In C Major K.220; Exsultate Jubilate

Hill Country Revue: Live at Bonnaroo