Brahms: Double Concerto, Op. 102; Schumann: Cello Concerto, Op. 129

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It's always a pleasant surprise when a budget label offers us performances as good as these. Ilya Kaler and Maria Kliegel blend in one of the best performances of the Brahms Concerto I've ever heard. They are both "big" enough for the music, which they play on a grand scale. But they also blend well and selflessly into an integrated performance with the strong orchestra and conductor. Brahms, that lover of chamber music, would have been delighted. Kliegel's Schumann Concerto is very romantic, with a lot of phrase bending, but she keeps within the bounds of good taste and again the orchestra provides strong collaboration. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op. 129: Nicht zu schnell
Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op. 129: Langsam
Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op. 129: Sehr lebhaft
Double Concerto For Violin & Cello, Op. 102: Allegro
Double Concerto For Violin & Cello, Op. 102: Andante
Double Concerto For Violin & Cello, Op. 102: Vivace non troppo

Amazon.com

It's always a pleasant surprise when a budget label offers us performances as good as these. Ilya Kaler and Maria Kliegel blend in one of the best performances of the Brahms Concerto I've ever heard. They are both "big" enough for the music, which they play on a grand scale. But they also blend well and selflessly into an integrated performance with the strong orchestra and conductor. Brahms, that lover of chamber music, would have been delighted. Kliegel's Schumann Concerto is very romantic, with a lot of phrase bending, but she keeps within the bounds of good taste and again the orchestra provides strong collaboration. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Very Enjoyable Concerti by Brahms & Schumann.......2007-04-24

What a nice coupling! Instead of putting Brahm's Double with Beethoven's Triple Concerto, like so many others, Naxos has nicely put together Schumann's beautiful Cello Concerto with the Brahms Op.102. Of course, most know of Johannes Brahm's fondness for the pianist, composer, and wife of Robert Schumann, that is, Clara Wieck (Schumann). First, the Schumann Concerto, which Robert referred to as a "Concert piece for cello with orchestral accompaniment", which was composed in 1850. It's first public performance was not given until 1860, four years after Schumann had passed. The soloist here in this recording is Maria Kliegel. She is well-balanced, with very good sound provided by the Naxos engineers. She receives fine support from the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, conducted by Andrew Constantine. A perfect balance is achieved by the soloist and the orchestra, with excellent results. The Brahms Double Concerto was written about two years after his Fourth (and final) Symphony, in the year 1887. This is a very appealing performance recorded on this release. Once again, the cello soloist is Kliegel, with the violin played by Ilya Kaler. Both are well 'in-sync', with very good intonation. The difficult double-stopped chords played together by both players in the finale are exceptional and very clearly captured in this warm, full-bodied recording. The beautiful main melody in the Andante comes off wonderfully. Then, the finale is performed unhurriedly, but with wit and charm. At this great Naxos price, both of these works on this CD are highly recommended, competitive with most full-price versions available.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

No More Mr. Lucky

Rain: Grand Piano & Nature

Pussy Whipped

Live at Montreux [Live]

Canned Heat Cookbook: Their Greatest Hits [Original recording remastered]

Songs in the Key of Salvation

Sondheim Evening: A Musical Tribute (1973 Concert Cast) [Cast Recording] [Live]

Piano Dreams (Box Set) [Box set]

Reunited the Last Dance [Import]

Rossini: Une lrame; Duo; Serenata; Sonata a quattro

Sacred Music [Live] [Import]

Pa' la Muchachada

Queen

Blues From the Attic

Stomping at the Savoy: Hot Rod 1955-1961