Shostakovich: Cello Concertos #1,2; Satires

If one read the booklet included in this Yedang CD, written by Boris Gontarev, one would think this is a marvelous product. He speaks so warmly about all the (major) musicians involved...
Alas, my opinion is much lesser than that. Yet, both concerti are a playful way of developing a lyrical theme, quite melodic in fact. Regardless, these concertos are necessary in a good music collection.

Interesting to know was that Shostakovich (Šostakovič ) had actually dedicated the 2nd concerto, and written for Rostropovich the 1st concerto.

Now, what an interesting duo. I have not known that Rostropovich played the piano (like that, of course). The married couple, Rostropovich and Vishnevskaya interpret the satires.


Composer: Shostakovich (Дмитрий Дмитриевич Шостакович)
Cello: Mstislav Rostropovich (Мстисла́в Леопо́льдович Ростропо́вич)
Conductor: David Oistrakh
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Cello Concerto #1	Eb	Op.107		Recorded 24.01.1965, mono
Cello Concerto #2	G	Op.126		Recorded 12.11.1967, mono
Satires (Pictures of the Past) To a critic Spring Awakening Descendents Misunderstanding Kreutzer Sonata		Op.109	Soprano: Galina Vishnevskaya Piano: Mstislav Rostropovich	Five Romances for Soprano and Piano. Dedicated to Galina Vishnevskaya. Recorded 21.10.1967

Schubert: Streichquintett C-dur D 956

I have to say that it took me like 10 times to appreciate this quintet. I do not have memory of having heard it before I bought it. The first times, I just thought it was a waste of emotiveness. I had to listen to it a few times, to start identifying passages I liked.
Now I can say that it is among the music that I undoubtedly had to have in my collection. In the allegro, it has stubborn repetitions with accompanying lyricism, alternations of impetus and reflexions. I particularly enjoy the tension Schubert creates whenever he wants to emphasize. Listen particularly to the main theme of the adagio. The allegretto has a playful slavic air. It becomes stubborn too.

This is a live version by the Emerson String Quartet with guest Mstislav Rostropovich as second Violoncello.

String Quintet in C major, D 956 (op.posth. 163)

1. Allegro ma non troppo (19'15)
2. Adagio (14'50)
3. Scherzo. Presto - Trio. Andante sostenuto (10'02)
4. Allegretto (9'22)

[(blogginography note: draft initiated http://blistener.blogspot.com/2007/05/schubert-string-quintet.html)]

Schubert, Schumann, Debussy: Arpeggione

As the booklet quotes, the sound quality is amazing... it is so warm yet harsh. Both musicians, Rostropovich(cello) & Britten(piano) are so well coupled that it sounds as a perfect unit. And though the Schubert's Arpeggione sonata is simple, it is so direct and with such an emotional interpretation that it keeps resounding after it is over. Amazing sound produced by the cello, with plucked chords at some point.
Schumann's five pieces are quite lively and wholehearted.
Debussy is more contemplative and excessively tentative, instead of inspired to my taste.

Definitely a must buy!!
Decca: Legendary Performances, Legends 1968
engineered at 96Khz 24-bit (Super Digital transfer) above standards

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Franz Schubert: Sonata for arpeggione and piano		D821		Recorded Snape, 1968
Robert Schumann: Fünf Stücke im Volkston		p.102		London 1961
Claude Debussy: Sonata for cello and piano		L.135		London 1961

Dvořák / Tchaikovsky : Cello Concerto / Rococo Variations

Beautiful! How many themes can fit into a Concerto, that boasts of creativity. How many "profound" themes for movie scores or similar have been inspired by Dvořák's Cello Concerto in Bm, op.104.
And such a nice interpretation by Rostropovich (Мстисла́в Леопо́льдович Ростропо́вич), with the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Seiji Ozawa, an Elatus CD.

The Rococo Variations Op.33 remind us of Tchaikovsy's (Чайкoвский) pompousness. Nice listening, nevertheless.

Dvořák: Cello concerto in Bm Op.104



• Allegro


• Adagio ma non troppo


• Finale: Allegro moderato



Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33