Dvorák: Cello Concerto / Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme |
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Artist:
Mstislav Rostropovich,
Berliner Philharmoniker
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: £9.99
Our Price: £5.01
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0028944741322
Label: Decca (UMO)
Manufacturer: Decca (UMO)
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Decca (UMO)
Release Date: 1995-04-04
Running Time: 60
Studio: Decca (UMO) |
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Disc 1:
| 1. 1. Allegro | | 2. 2. Adagio ma non troppo | | 3. 3. Finale (Allegro moderato) | | 4. Moderato assai quasi andante | | 5. Tema: Moderato semplice | | 6. Variazione I: Tempo del Tema | | 7. Variazione II: Tempo del Tema | | 8. Variazione III: Andante sostenuto | | 9. Variazione IV: Andante grazioso | | 10. Variazione V: Allegro moderato | | 11. Variazione VI: Andante | | 12. Variazione VII e Coda: Allegro vivo |
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Magnificent ensemble whole / Definitive performance, 2010-04-07
This is the definitive recording. The performance of the orchestra, conductor, and soloist reach unparalleled heights of beauty in a symbiotic union of absolute sublimeness. The other choice for this work is the BSO under Osawa with Rostropovich. But that performance has nothing over this one, in fact it is decidedly inferior. On that recording the BSO seems to be playing under some sort of dampening oppressive cloud. Here instead Karajan stimulates Rostropovich to reach heights that are not present on the BSO, and the BPO is light years away from the BSO in this case. This is a truly magnificent ensemble accomplishment at the level of the orchestra and soloist - they perform as an organic whole in a seemless and emotionally vibrant manner taking you on a journey into another sphere of otherworldly beauty. Don't worry that this is an ADD transfer while the Osawa/BSO version is DDD; here the sound is glorious and brilliantly remastered and engineered.Dvorák - Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky - Rococo Variations
 an excellent but overrated performance, 2005-12-23
Whoever is going to buy this cd will be certainly satisfied with it. It contains an excellent performance of Dvorak cello concerto. However its status as the "best", definitive performance (if ever these kind of statements can make any sense) of this work is certainly excessive. For instance, Rostropovich with Talich is not as sumptuously played but it is certainly more idiomatic. Personally I prefer it. The famous Casals recording is, as cello playing, unmatchable. The pulse and phrasing of Casals are a class apart even for Rostropovich. Du Pre with Celibidache provides such a moving performance which, for all its smoothnes, richness and fullness of sound, the Rostropovich-Karayan cannot match.
Classic recording, 2010-06-19
This is a classic recording of wonderful music. There might be newer versions of recording of these works but this is a very satisfying starting point to consider your own reviews.
Quintessential Recording, 2005-04-13
This classic recording is easily my first pick as a Desert Island Disc. There has been no better recording of the Dvorak Cello Concerto than this - it is simply unsurpassable in terms of soloist (Rostropovich at his prime, there is no substitute) and a superb accompaniment from the sublime Berlin Phil, sensitively directed by Karajan. The recording is full of passion and has a number of incredible spine-tingling moments, particularly in the slow movement, and also the lovely duet between solo violin and the soloist in the final movement.And as if this is not enough, there is also a wonderful recording of the Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations - it would be worth buying this CD for this recording alone! Rostropovich is outstanding throughout, combining stunning virtuosity with a great sense of melodic integrity. The orchestral accompaniment in this piece is renowned as being tricky, but Karajan does a fantastic job and the orchestral playing is light and responsive throughout. This is a fantastic recording that has given me hours and hours of pleasure, and I can't understand why I am the first person to be reviewing it!
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