Rostropovich, Master Cellist
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Music CD Cover
Performer: Mstislav RostropovichComposer: Frederic Chopin
Composer: Antonin Dvorak
Composer: Alexander Glazunov
Composer: Sergey Rachmaninov
Composer: Franz Schubert
Composer: Robert Schumann
Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Conductor: Gennady Rozhdestvensky
Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker
Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra: Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra
Performer: Alexander Dedyuhkin
Edition: Music CD
Format: Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2002-04-02
Music Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Allegro
- Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Adagio Ma Non Troppo
- Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Finale. Allegro Moderato
- Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In A Minor: Nicht Zu Schnell
- Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In A Minor: Langsam
- Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In A Minor: Sehr Lebhaft
- Andante Cantabile Op. Posth. For Cello And String Orchestra: Andante Cantabile Op. Posth.
- Chand Du Menstrel Op. 71 For Cello And Orchestra: Chant Du Menestrel
- Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Lento - Allegro Moderato
- Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Allegro Scherzando
- Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Andante
- Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Allegro Mosso
- Introduction And Polonaise Brillante For Cello And Piano In C Major Op.3: Introduction And Polonaise Brillante For Cello And Piano In C Major
- Vocalise Op.34 No.14: Vocalise
- Impromptu In G Flat Major D 899 No.3: Impromptu In G Flat Major
- Kinderszenen Op.5 No.7 Scenes From Childhood: Traumerei - Dreaming
Free Music Notes for Rostropovich, Master Cellist
Free Music Review: An imperfect compilation, but never mind
Hit: 4 Stars
Deutsche Grammophon issued this compilation in celebration of Rostropovich's 75th birthday in 2002; in the wake of the great Russian's recent death, this two-disc retrospective has been granted a slightly renewed relevance. What more can be written of Rostropovich's preponderance that hasn't been exhaustively posited and discussed? His playing was characterized by an emotive fervor and meticulous technical excellence that are very nearly unsurpassed. His legacy as both a musician and an anti-Communist proponent have been assured.
The first of the two discs is dedicated to many notable orchestral works featuring a prominent cello soloist, and over half of its' length is dominated by Dvor?k's cello concerto, a piece that Rostropovich famously recorded more often than any other and which was, in turn, mostly popularized by him. Its' execution in this most famous of these numerous recordings is flawless, as the fastidious cellist is here paired with fellow perfectionist Karajan at the height of his powers. But it could be said that Rostropovich and Karajan have made this piece seem greater than it actually is; for all the hype, the Cello Concerto is not unlike some of the lesser Mahler symphonies: meandering, nearly aimless music punctuated by passages of extraordinary power and beauty.
While Schumann's own Cello Concerto is hardly a masterwork, this extremely focused, busy composition is admirable for being one of too few works in which cello is closely paired with orchestra during the entirety of its' duration. By contrast, Tchaikovsky's "Andante cantabile" (originally a movement of his first string quartet) features a lush cello part and a sparse string orchestral accompaniment. This particular recording is notable as a showcase for Rostropovich's diverse talents, as he conducts the BPO while performing the solo part. The first disc ends with Glazunov's heart-rending, almost incomparably beautiful "Chant du m?n?stral," a magnificent relative obscurity that deserves inclusion in this compilation, if only to receive more attention.
The second disc focuses on some of Rostropovich's recordings of chamber music - specifically, his work with pianist Alexander Dedyukhin. It opens with Rachmaninov's exhaustive Sonata for Piano and Cello, an impressive piece characteristic of the late romantic's tendency to imbue his works with a wide emotional range and no small number of technical challenges for a performer. Chopin's "Introduction and Polonaise brillante" for Cello and Piano was initially a less generous work in regard to its' cello part, which was modified by Rostropovich for this recording to provide it with a greater prominence. As a work characteristic of Chopin, the cello almost seems incongruous.
The last three recordings on the disc are transcriptions of popular compositions for piano and cello: Rachmaninov's "Vocalise" (initially scribed as a warmup exercise for a vocalist); Schubert's "Impromptu" (the cantabile of which is surely more challenging for a pianist as the little Austrian originally intended); the "Tr?umerei" movement of Schumann's "Kinderszenen" (itself an adaptation of the popular transcription for violin). In all three of these recordings, Rostropovich's performances are superlative in a way that makes these works seem as though they were originally written for the cello. "Tr?umerei" is especially lovely; the deeper tone of the instrument lends a weight to this transcription that a violin or viola just can't afford. In all of the tracks on this disc, Dedyukhin's light, deft accompaniment is equally assured and subtle. Dedyukhin knew to defer to his partner's eminence, but his own familiarity with and mastery of these works is nothing short of impressive.
While this album has been capably remastered and most of the second disc's content (excepting the Rachmaninov sonata) wasn't available on CD before this release, it feels both incomplete and inadequate as a compilation. In fact, it's hard to imagine any release less than a large (and probably expensive) boxed set that could encompass the majority of Rostropovich's best work as either a cellist or a conductor during any period. Even as it is, the selections on this album are questionable. Many of the excellent commissioned works written specifically for Rostropovich by his contemporaries (Lutoslawski, Khachaturian, Britten, Shostakovich, Schnittke, Penderecki, etc.) would have been better choices for inclusion on this album than the lesser concert recordings or transcriptions. DG makes the best of what it has on hand and that's all well and good, but Rostropovich would have been better honored with a reissued series of his recordings. Any compilation of such a long and accomplished career is likely to be insufficient.
Rostropovich, Master Cellist Poster
Mstislav Rostropovich's 75th birthday is the occasion for this two-disc set of prime recordings by the protean artist. The Dvor?k Concerto with Karajan's overrefined conducting, one of the better of the cellist's five recordings of this masterpiece, is not as lively as his version with Ozawa or as idiomatic as his early recording with Talich and the Czech Philharmonic in monophonic sound. The Schumann Concerto, here with Rozhdestvensky and the Leningrad Philharmonic, is incisively Romantic, but disciplined and done with a ravishing tone, vividly recorded. It's superior to his later, indulgent version with Bernstein. The charming short pieces by Tchaikovsky and Glazunov are also irresistible for Rostropovich's gorgeous playing. Disc two partners him in solo pieces with pianist Alexander Dedyukhin, the centerpiece being Rachmaninov's Sonata, overflowing with lovely melodies played to the hilt by the cellist. The shorter works include transcriptions, perfect encore fare perfectly played. This set is a feast for Rostropovich's fans. --Dan DavisClassical Music CDs
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