Notes and Editorial Reviews
The art of the great cellist Mstislav Rostropovich is admirably encapsulated in a collection called "Masterpieces for Cello". It includes larger-than-life performances of concertos by Vivaldi (RV398 and 413), Boccherini and Tartini, which are gloriously unauthentic in every sense of the word; these composers would surely have been amazed, and delighted, to hear cello playing so full of personality and tonal body. Paul Sacher and the Zurich Collegium Musicum provide strong accompaniments. Then follows the delightful Rococo Variations of Tchaikovsky. Here we can forgive the soloist for not choosing the composer's original score, when he plays the 'normal' performing version with such winning charm and infinite subtlety. He is
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accompanied with great flair by Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. Rostropovich then indulges himself (and us) in an arrangement for cello and orchestra of Tchaikovsky's Andante cantabile. On the second CD we have Glazunov's charming Chant du ménéstrel and Shostakovich's very different Second Cello Concerto (Rostropovich is the dedicatee). Finally, we are given the "Three Meditations" from Bernstein's Mass conducted by the composer. A very worthwhile compilation, excellently recorded throughout.
-- Gramophone [10/1994]
Many of these recordings have already achieved hallowed status... Obviously no set celebrating Rostropovich’s art could omit his legendary Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations... Equally the Shostakovich Second with Ozawa shows extraordinary insight into the musical invention...
-- Joane Talbot, BBC Music Magazine
reviewing these recordings previously reissued as part of DG 4776579
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Works on This Recording
1.
Concerto for Cello in C major, RV 398 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Paul Sacher
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Zurich Collegium Musicum
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
2.
Concerto for Cello in G major, RV 413 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Paul Sacher
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Zurich Collegium Musicum
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
3.
Concerto for Cello in A major by Giuseppe Tartini
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Paul Sacher
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Zurich Collegium Musicum
Period: Baroque
Written: 18th Century; Italy
4.
Concerto for Cello in D major, G 479 by Luigi Boccherini
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Paul Sacher
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Zurich Collegium Musicum
Period: Classical
Written: by 1771
5.
Variations for Cello and Orchestra on a Rococo theme, Op. 33 by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1876; Russia
6.
Andante cantabile for Cello and Strings, Op. 11 by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Mstislav Rostropovich
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: ?1886-88; Russia
7.
Chant du ménestrel for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 71 by Alexander Glazunov
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1900; Russia
8.
Concerto for Cello no 2 in G major, Op. 126 by Dmitri Shostakovich
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1966; USSR
9.
Mass: Meditations (3) by Leonard Bernstein
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1971; USA
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