To begin at the beginning, as Dylan Thomas has it. Dvořák’s Cello Concerto is really the first such work of modern times. Laid out in three large movements it is full of the most wonderful tunes. Dvořák never skimped on giving us as much melody as he could. Add to that the glorious orchestration, fireworks for the soloist and the most poignant of codas. Natalia Gutman is a fine player and she has all the virtuosity required by this work, but she is equally at home in the lyrical parts. Using a subtle amount of rubato she gives a first class performance, and is very well supported by the Philadelphia under Sawallisch...

Elgar’s Concerto appears in the wonderful Robert Cohen recording, made when he was only 21 years of age. Despite his youth this is a fully rounded performance, and is, like Natalie Clein’s recent recording, which I discussed a few months ago, totally different from du Pré’s reading. Cohen studied with du Pré late in her all too short life. It is good to hear this performance once again for it always was a winner and Cohen is a cellist we hear far too little of. His recent live performance, with the RPO, of Finzi’s Concerto was a sheer joy. This is great music-making.... No collection should be without this superb reading of the Elgar Concerto.

Gutman gives a restrained and moving account of Schumann’s shy and, in general, retiring -- or should it be resigned? -- Concerto, followed by a dazzling account, by Tortelier, of Saint-Saëns’s all too brief 1st Concerto. A real success this, a great performance.... The set ends with Bruch’s Kol Nidrei, which isn’t even a Concerto! It’s beautifully and warmly played by Han-Na Chang and conducted by Rostropovich. Despite the various ages of the recordings the sound is remarkably consistent and the notes are perfect for the set.

-- Bob Briggs, MusicWeb International