Rostropovich-Cellist of the Century-Complete Warner Recordings

[Stanley Stewart]

A treasure trove, indeed. Complete Warner Recordings; 40CD set + 3DVDs (Bach Cello
Suites and Dvorak/Saint-Saens Cello Concertos/LPO-Giulini. A neatly stacked box set with an attractive hardback 200page with liner notes, discography and high quality prints to match. The cds in cardboard covers, stacked in double compartments, with the merit of the LP covers, reduced size, on each sleeve. The maroon box top, A4 sized, with a monochrome line drawing of Rostropovich, can be comfortably held on one hand. Couldn't wait, of course, after seeing the cover of CD6, Beethoven Triple Concerto, BPO/HvK, 1969, and the formidable trio, David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter and Rostropovich. Now eager to start listening over Easter after preparatory research as I compile a set of programmes from off-air videos to HD/DVD. Rostropovich -
Genius of the Cello (2011), 94mins, Soldiers of Music,(1990), 77mins; both cover the complex era
when the Maestro defied the Soviet hierarchy and the subsequent decade and a half when he was banished and sought refuge in the USA. A heart rending sequence when lauded by the populace on his return to Moscow, he and Galina Vishnevskaya revisted the locations of his emergent years.

I'm also proud to have a 2DVD set of Legends, Rostropovich and Richter performing the Beethoven Cello Sonatas at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh Festival, 1964. At the time I was performing at the Gateway Theatre in Auld Reekie and created havoc with our Company Manager to get me access to the two morning rehearsals as, of course, I was working in the evenings. A double blessing as the performances were recorded and I was thrilled when they were repeated on BBC 4, several decades later,23 & 24 Dec 2002,- I had video facilities! I wonder whether the rights are still available? If so, a repeat performance would be welcome and timely in a remastered print. Better value, IMV than the 7 consecutive hours of TOTP repeats on BBC 4, tonight.

[mikealdren]

Don't build your hopes too high for the Karajan Triple concerto, by all accounts it was an unhappy recording session and the end results are sadly nothing special. However there is some marvellous stuff in the box.

Mike

[pastoralguy]

Don't build your hopes too high for the Karajan Triple concerto, by all accounts it was an unhappy recording session and the end results are sadly nothing special. However there is some marvellous stuff in the box.

Mike

I did hear that the three soloists wanted a re-take but Herbie wanted to get onto the photo session. That's why Herbie looks super cool and composed whereas Oistrakh, Richter and Rostropovich look sweaty and tired.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Don't build your hopes too high for the Karajan Triple concerto, by all accounts it was an unhappy recording session and the end results are sadly nothing special.

"All accounts", Mike? I know of Lebrecht; who are the other sources? (FWIW, I greatly enjoy the recording.)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I did hear that the three soloists wanted a re-take but Herbie wanted to get onto the photo session. That's why Herbie looks super cool and composed whereas Oistrakh, Richter and Rostropovich look sweaty and tired.

From Lebrecht, perchance, pasto?

[HighlandDougie]

From Lebrecht, perchance, pasto?

While Lebrecht ("The Life and Death of Classical Music") insinuates this - I'm tempted to say - canard, I seem to remember from the Bruno Monsaingeon film about Richter (in Scotland, alas, so I can't check) that Richter makes a fairly uncharitable comment about Karajan along these lines but Richter, complicated man that he was, was perhaps not the most reliable of commentators. I suspect that that is where it all stems from. Richter, in his favour, venerated Oistrakh. And it is a very fine performance of what is not exactly top-drawer LvB (I've spent much of the afternoon listening to late Beethoven quartets, courtesy of the rather wonderful Decca reissue of the Takács Quartet's cycle on Blu-ray Audio so maybe I'm a bit down on the Triple Concerto).

[pastoralguy]

From Lebrecht, perchance, pasto?

Actually, no, ferney. A acquaintance of mine played with the Berliner Philharmoniker for a time and we visited him in Berlin. After the concert we attended, we went out with a couple of players, one of whom was a real old timer and had played under Karajan. He confirmed the story and added that the three soloists rehearsed between themselves when Herbie disappeared. When he returned, he dismissed the orchestra then called for the photo session.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

While Lebrecht ("The Life and Death of Classical Music") insinuates this - I'm tempted to say - canard, I seem to remember from the Bruno Monsaingeon film about Richter (in Scotland, alas, so I can't check) that Richter makes a fairly uncharitable comment about Karajan along these lines but Richter, complicated man that he was, was perhaps not the most reliable of commentators. I suspect that that is where it all stems from. Richter, in his favour, venerated Oistrakh. And it is a very fine performance of what is not exactly top-drawer LvB (I've spent much of the afternoon listening to late Beethoven quartets, courtesy of the rather wonderful Decca reissue of the Takács Quartet's cycle on Blu-ray Audio so maybe I'm a bit down on the Triple Concerto).

Indeed - there is a comment from Richter (pace the online commentator who ascribes it to Oistrach) describing it as a "dreadful" recording; which isn't borne by the recording itself. There are some moments of peccable ensemble between the soloists (if you listen very carefully) - which, if they'd been tidied up would no doubt have ensured that it would have been added to the list of "typically chromium-plated/plushly upholstered Karajan recordings".

Actually, no, ferney. A acquaintance of mine played with the Berliner Philharmoniker for a time and we visited him in Berlin. After the concert we attended, we went out with a couple of players, one of whom was a real old timer and had played under Karajan. He confirmed the story and added that the three soloists rehearsed between themselves when Herbie disappeared. When he returned, he dismissed the orchestra then called for the photo session.

That's very interesting - the only corroboration of Richter's view of events I've ever seen; many thanks, pasto

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

But, does Karajan "look super-cool and composed whereas Oistrach, Richter, and Rostropovich look sweaty and tired"?

[pastoralguy]

But, does Karajan "look super-cool and composed whereas Oistrach, Richter, and Rostropovich look sweaty and tired"?

O
Well, Oistrakh looks pretty knackered. Herbie's photo could almost have been patched in, I suppose today it would be photoshopped, but he's certainly not 'one of the boys'.

[richardfinegold]

O
Well, Oistrakh looks pretty knackered. Herbie's photo could almost have been patched in, I suppose today it would be photoshopped, but he's certainly not 'one of the boys'.

Well, Heribert didn't have to rely upon Soviet era tailoring!

[richardfinegold]

While Lebrecht ("The Life and Death of Classical Music") insinuates this - I'm tempted to say - canard, I seem to remember from the Bruno Monsaingeon film about Richter (in Scotland, alas, so I can't check) that Richter makes a fairly uncharitable comment about Karajan along these lines but Richter, complicated man that he was, was perhaps not the most reliable of commentators. I suspect that that is where it all stems from. Richter, in his favour, venerated Oistrakh. And it is a very fine performance of what is not exactly top-drawer LvB (I've spent much of the afternoon listening to late Beethoven quartets, courtesy of the rather wonderful Decca reissue of the Takács Quartet's cycle on Blu-ray Audio so maybe I'm a bit down on the Triple Concerto).

I always wonder why people always knock The Beethoven Triple and the Brahms Double. I think both pieces are fully representative of their creators best efforts in the Concerto genre. I prefer the Brahms to the VC or to the First PC, which to many performers turn into a gooey morass, and I at least prefer the Beethoven Triple to his First PC. The Suk Trio first recording on Supraphon is the one to have but the Karajan et al ain't shabby. I had avoided it for years but now after buying EMI reissue boxes of Oistrakh and Richter I have 2 copies of it and I am puzzled by it's bad reputation.
HD, I just ordered remastered Hungarian Quartet Beethoven Cycle for the princely sum of 10 dollars from Presto. That has always been my preferred set. I would be curio about a Blu Ray remastering, however...