Notes and Editorial Reviews
Though it is not a greatest hits, a career highlights, or the only disc you'll ever need by the performer, Artist Portrait is well worth hearing for fans of Mstislav Rostropovich. First, it includes performances of works that the great Russian cellist otherwise never recorded -- Rheinberger's serene Abendlied, Marcello's haunting Adagio arranged for cello and organ by Bach, and Bach's own majestic Adagio from his Organ Toccata in C major arranged by Alexander Siloti. Second, it includes Rostropovich's final recordings of pieces he was closely and uniquely associated with -- the spicy central Allegro guisto from Prokofiev's Symphony-Concerto for cello and orchestra and the spiky opening Allegretto from Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1.
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Third, it includes splendid performances of works Rostropovich recorded several times earlier in his career -- Tchaikovsky's piquant Variations on a Rococo Theme and the central Adagio ma non troppo from Dvorák's Cello Concerto. While those who love the late cellist will want to hear other recordings, anyone who loves Rostropovich will probably want to hear this one, too. Taken from digital recordings originally released by Teldec and Erato, the sound on this Warner Classics release is close, warm, and colorful.
- James Leonard, All Music Guide Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Pieces (6) for Violin and Organ, Op. 150: no 2, Abendlied by Joseph Rheinberger
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Herbert Tachezi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: Germany
Length: 4 Minutes 15 Secs.
2.
Concerto for Cello in D minor: Allegro by Giuseppe Tartini
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Hugh Wolff
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 18th Century; Italy
Length: 3 Minutes 4 Secs.
3.
Concerto in D minor after Alessandro Marcello, BWV 974: 2nd movement, Adagio by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Herbert Tachezi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1708-1717; Weimar, Germany
Length: 5 Minutes 4 Secs.
4.
Concerto for Cello in D minor, RV 406 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Hugh Wolff
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Length: 9 Minutes 27 Secs.
5.
Variations for Cello and Orchestra on a Rococo theme, Op. 33 by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1876; Russia
Length: 17 Minutes 32 Secs.
6.
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564: Adagio by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Herbert Tachezi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Written: 1708-17
Length: 4 Minutes 0 Secs.
Notes: Arranger: Alexander Siloti.
7.
Symphony-Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 125: 2nd movement, Allegro giusto by Sergei Prokofiev
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USSR
Length: 17 Minutes 0 Secs.
Notes: Composition written: USSR (1951).
Composition revised: USSR (1952).
8.
Concerto for Cello in B minor, Op. 104/B 191: 2nd movement, Adagio ma non troppo by Antonín Dvorák
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1894-1895; USA
Length: 11 Minutes 50 Secs.
9.
Concerto for Cello no 1 in E flat major, Op 107: 1st movement, Allegretto by Dmitri Shostakovich
Performer:
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Conductor:
Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1959; USSR
Length: 6 Minutes 29 Secs.
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