Camille Saint-Saëns: Cello Concertos

Editorial Reviews
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These three popular cello concertos are all superbly performed by János Starker, and he's ably accompanied by Antal Dorati and the LSO. The Saint-Saëns concerto is the little jewel here: an expertly crafted and tuneful work in three connected movements. It has elegance and charm, and isn't a moment too long. I'm convinced that the only reason the Lalo gets played as often as it does is that cellists need a logical French coupling for the Saint- Saëns. In all fairness, after the rocky first movement it goes rather well; and the slow movement is particularly charming. Schumann's famous concerto is something of a Starker specialty. A reticent piece, he plays it with genuine passion and strength. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

I. Nicht Zu Schell
II. Langsam
III. Sehr Lebhaft
I. Prelude: Lento; Allegro Maestoso
II. Intermezzo: Andantino Con Moto; Allegro Presto
III. Introduction: Andante; Allegro Vivace
I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Allegretto Con Moto
III. Un Peu Moins Vite

Robert Schumann/Edouard Lalo/Camille Saint-Saëns: Cello Concertos

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Robert Schumann/Edouard Lalo/Camille Saint-Saëns: Cello Concertos
Robert Schumann , Edouard Lalo , Camille Saint-Saens , London Symphony Orchestra , Stanislaw Skrowaczewski , Harold Lawrence , Antal Dorati , and Janos Starker
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Dvorak: Concerto for cello in Bm; Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
Brahms, Mendelssohn: Cello Sonatas
Dvorak & Saint-Saens: Cello Concertos

ASIN: B0000057KS
Release Date: 1991-02-08

Tracks:

Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op. 129: 1. Nicht zu schell
Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op. 129: 2. Langsam
Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op. 129: 3. Sehr lebhaft (Cadenza by James Starker)
Cello Concerto In D Minor: 1. Prelude: Lento; Allegro maestoso
Cello Concerto In D Minor: 2. Intermezzo: Andantino con moto; Allegro presto
Cello Concerto In D Minor: 3. Introduction: Andante; Allegro vivace
Cello Concerto In A Minor: 1. Allegro non troppo
Cello Concerto In A Minor: 2. Allegretto con moto
Cello Concerto In A Minor: 3. Un peu moins vite

Amazon.com

These three popular cello concertos are all superbly performed by János Starker, and he's ably accompanied by Antal Dorati and the LSO. The Saint-Saëns concerto is the little jewel here: an expertly crafted and tuneful work in three connected movements. It has elegance and charm, and isn't a moment too long. I'm convinced that the only reason the Lalo gets played as often as it does is that cellists need a logical French coupling for the Saint- Saëns. In all fairness, after the rocky first movement it goes rather well; and the slow movement is particularly charming. Schumann's famous concerto is something of a Starker specialty. A reticent piece, he plays it with genuine passion and strength. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Get Mercury Living Presence Before Its Dead.......2003-07-09

When I first started collecting classical CDs, I only had a few Mercury Living Presence (MLP) titles. In my quest to get the absolute best, or at least a definitive recording, of the major works of the standard repertoire, MLP discs rarely topped the critics' lists. In fact, only three MLP recordings have been earmarked as "Essential Recordings" by amazon -- Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, Byron Janis performing Rachmaninov's 2nd & 3rd Piano Concertos, and Yehudi Menuhin performing Bartok's 2nd Violin Concerto, all three with Antal Dorati as conductor. It is also safe to say that three other titles are equally essential for their historical value alone. They are Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake by Dorati (the first recording of the complete ballet), Janis performing Liszt's Piano Concertos (the first recordings made in the Soviet Union by American technicians, musical staff and equipment), and Kubelik's Chicago Symphony performance of Pictures at an Exhibition (one of, if not the single best mono recording ever, and the one that led the New York Times critic to coin the phrase "Living Presence," from which the label named its series). But how does a CD line go from having a half-dozen must have recordings, to being this reviewer's all-time favorite classical label?

The answer: consistently magical performances, captured in brilliant golden-age stereo sound, that offer a slightly different take on your typical interpretation of the great works. While MLP titles may not offer the best standard account of a work, they always surprise you and open you up to all the possibilities that the music has to offer. For example, this performance of Schumann, Lalo and Saint-Saens (No. 1) Cello Concertos by Janos Staker may not be the consensus first choice recording, but I constantly come back to this disc for a different perspective, and its vibrancy and splendor never disappoint me. Maybe that is why collectors prize these recordings, because they are a breath of fresh air in a homogenized world of listening. Of course, collectors love a challenge too, and MLP CDs are becoming increasingly hard to find. It has taken years for me to finally find all of the MLP CDs released to date, and unfortunately I don't think there will be any new releases forthcoming. So collectors, and even those who aspire to be, should pick up as many Mercury Living Presence discs as possible now, before they all die.

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