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

Ligeti: Works for Piano 3

I did not grow fond of this one, though I listened to it repeatedly. Nevertheless, I did find perhaps something in it. Musica ricercata is an interesting exploration of the spatial effects that a piano as a percussion instrument can develop. It concentrates on this by developing volume/intensity lines, by controlling reverberation, and by actually changing the spatial direction of sound, since a piano is a big instrument having different registers distinctively located.

• Études pour Piano (1er livre)


• Études pour Piano (2eme livre)


• Musica ricercata


• Études pour Piano (extrait du 3eme livre). XV White on White (world premiere recording)

Rachmaninoff & Prokofiev:Concerti #3

This is a Van Cliburn CD from RCA Super Audio CD. Van Cliburn won the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow and immediately back in the USA played in this concerto.

It took me several listenings until I appreciated these works closer to what I should have. The interpretation is flawless with seemless transitions. The interpretation of Rachmaninoff's main theme has quite a distinct touch. As the booklet describes about van Cliburn's magnetism with John Briggs words: "...I would simply say it is musical control coupled with spontaneous beauty." Nothing more clearly noted that in the first movement of Sergei Rachmaninoff's concert.

Rakhmaninov's (Сергей Васильевич Рахманинов, 1 April 1873 – 28 March 1943) concerto is full of layers. Instead of big orchestral chords and accents, I can compare it with the layers of watercolor paintings, where to paint on top one has to let the lower one dry to preserve transparency.

Prokofiev's (Сергей Сергеевич Прокофьев, as he was born under Russian Empire; or Сергі́й Сергі́йович Проко́ф'єв, because he was born on what is now Ukraїne; 27 April 1891 – 5 March 1953) concerto, on the other hand, is full of pictoresque themes and phrases. It is lively and, thankfully, still contains melodic emphasis, despite the period's trend.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Piano Concerto #3	Dm	Opus 30	Symphony of the Air, Kiril Kondrashin	Recorded Live in concert in 1958
Piano Concerto #3	C	Opus 26	Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Walter Hendl	Recorded in 1960

I only wanted to add that despite me having mastered the opening of the CD box, each time I face it, I have to find the trick again. And I think it is great!

Ligeti: The Ligeti Project II

Not everything is standard classical music (emphasize on classical). This is a well sought out version of Ligeti from 1923. Jonathan Nott directs the Berliner Philharmoniker. Great timbral combinations. The whole orchestra becomes one sound, shifting to another one. And yet, Concert Românesc has such lively East European (obviously) melody and rhythm, that is hard to believe it comes in the same Teldec Classics CD. I must remark Atmoshères for its suggestive nature.
I have to make a point here that my "grade" label is more on my own very personal relation to the work, than a (presumably very poor) aesthetic evaluation.
[edited 5-feb-08]

1. Lontano
2. Atmoshpères
3. Apparitions
4. San Francisco Polyphony
   
5. Concert Românesc.