BaL 9.06.12 - Dvorak's Cello Concerto (merged threads)

[Barbirollians]

Tortelier/Previn still has top place in my heart it being the recording I got to know the piece from .

Others I like a great deal - Wispelwey, the wholehearted live du Pre with Groves and the straight to the heart Casals .

Rostropovich/ Karajan is marvellous as a performance playing wise but does not move me like the others.

Any other recommendations ?

I have added the following list of recordings here alongside Barbirollians' opening message, to facilitate comparisons in this newly merged thread.

Edmond Baeyens (cello), Brtn Philharmonic Orchestra Brussels, Fernand Terby
Zuill Bailey (cello), Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Jun Märkl
Jiri Barta (cello), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiri Kout
Erling Blöndal Bengtsson (cello), Artur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra, Ilya Stupel
Peter Bruns (cello), Staatskapelle Dresden, Michael Helmath
Gautier Capuçon (cello), Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi
Pablo Casals (cello), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, George Szell
Pablo Casals (cello), Pablo Casals Orchestra of Barcelona, George Szell
Emanuel Feuermann (cello), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Taube
David Finckel (cello) Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Felix Chiu-Sen Chen
Pierre Fournier (cello), Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester
Pierre Fournier (cello), Wiener Philharmoniker, Rafael Kubelik
Pierre Fournier (cello), BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
Pierre Fournier (cello), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Szell
Anne Gastinel (Cello), Lyon National Orchestra, Emmanuel Krivine
Natalia Gutman (cello), Philadelphia Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch
Frans Helmerson (cello), Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi, Myung-Whun Chung
Ludwig Hoelscher (cello), Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg, Joseph Keilberth
Tomáš Jamník (cello), Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tomáš Netopil
Antonio Janigro (cello), Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra, Erich Kleiber
Ádám Jávorkai (cello), Szeged Symphony Orchestra, Sándor Gyüdi
Maria Kliegel (cello), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Halasz
Alexander Kniazev (cello), Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Fedoseyev
James Kreger (cello), Philharmonia Orchestra, Djong Victorin Yu
Yo-Yo Ma (cello), New York Philharmonic, Kurt Masur
Tibor de Machula (cello), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Radio Orchestra
Mischa Maisky (cello). Israel Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein
Mischa Maisky (cello), Prague Symphony Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Angelica May (cello), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Neumann
Perényi Miklós (cello), Budapest Festival Orchestra, Iván Fischer
Truls Mørk (cello), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariss Jansons
André Navarra, Hallé Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli
Zara Nelsova (cello), Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Walter Susskind
Arto Noras (cello), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Jan Palenicek (cello), Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra
Gregor Piatigorsky (cello), Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch
Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello), The Prague Philharmonia, Jirí Belohlávek
Gustav Rivinius (cello), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Václav Neumann (DVD)
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Boult
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), London Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan (2 versions)
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich
Jacqueline du Pré (cello), Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim
Jacqueline du Pré (cello), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sergiu Celibidache
Jacqueline du Pré (cello), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Milo Sádlo (cello), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Václav Neumann
Heinrich Schiff (cello), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Daniil Shafran (Cello), USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Kondrashin, Neeme Jarvi
Yacov Slobodkin (cello), Moscow Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Igor Guzman
Janos Starker (cello), London Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati
Torleif Thedéen (cello), Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels
Paul Tortelier (cello), Le Grand Orchestre de Radio-Paris Theatre Des Champs Elysees, Willem Mengelberg
Tortelier (cello), London Symphony Orchestra, Previn
Saša Večtomov (cello), Central Bohemia Symphony Orchestra
Raphael Wallfisch (cello), London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras
Pieter Wispelwey (cello), Budapest Festival Orchestra, Iván Fischer
Pieter Wispelwey (cello), Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Lawrence Renes
Wen-Sinn Yang (cello), Deutsches Kammerorchester, Sinfonica Helvetica, Grzegorz Nowak

[Bryn]

The fairly young Rostropovich, with the Czech Philharmonic under Talich for me, followed by his later recording with Boult.

[Pabmusic]

The two I return to most often are Rostropovich/Boult and Wallfisch/Mackerras. Like most favourites, they are familiar enough to let me hear the music.

[makropulos]

Tortelier/Previn still has top place in my heart it being the recording I got to know the piece from .

Others I like a great deal - Wispelwey, the wholehearted live du Pre with Groves and the straight to the heart Casals .

Rostropovich/ Karajan is marvellous as a performance playing wise but does not move me like the others.

Any other recommendations ?

Starker and Dorati on Mercury, Piatigorsky and Munch on RCA, and Bryn's recommendation of Rostropovich/Talich.

[umslopogaas]

Phew, plenty of choice! Interesting, looking at the selection on my shelves: it occurs to me that this is a very strong, even outspoken, work and speaks louder than its interpretation oh dear, that's not very coherent, I think what I'm trying to say is that it doesnt matter very much to me who plays it, you dont hear Piatigorsky, Rostropovich or whoever, you just hear Dvorak. I have (all on LP):

Piatigorsky/Munch/Boston SO (RCA)
Thauer/Macal/Czech PO (DG)
Fournier/Szell/BPO (DG)
Fournier/Kubelik/VPO (Decca mono)
Rostropovich/RPO/Boult (HMV)
Rostropovich/Karajan/BPO (DG)
Rostropovich/Talich/Czech PO (Supraphon mono "historical recording")
Rostropovich/Khaikin/Moscow Radio SO (MK mono)
Rostropovich/Giulini/LPO (HMV)
Gendron/Haitink/LPO (Philips)
du Pre/Barenboim/Chicago SO (HMV)
Sadlo/Neumann/Czech PO (Supraphon)
Chuchro/Waldhans/Czech PO (Supraphon)
Tortelier/Sargent/Philharmonia (HMV mono)

I've never otherwise heard of Anja Thauer (cello) or Zdenek Macal (conductor), anyone know any more about them? The record dates from 1968 and she is described as "an outstandingly accomplished cellist, and has everywhere met with enthusiastic applause."

Choose just one? Probably play safe and go for Rostropovich and Karajan: it was certainly a top seller in its day.

[Pabmusic]

I've never otherwise heard of Anja Thauer (cello) or Zdenek Macal (conductor), anyone know any more about them?

I don't know the cellist, but Macal was conductor of the Czech Philharmonic for several years in the 2000s. I'd guess he's about 75 now. Classics for Pleasure have an excellent New World and Dvorak cello concerto by him (with Robert Cohen).

[PJPJ]

Anja Thauer: a very sad end

http://www.cello.org/heaven/mbarchs/2001/june2/fame.htm

[amateur51]

Slava giving it large!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxYbF-Yzdf0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RMHSjH6jGM Slava masterclass

Daniil Shafran, again with Giulini

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PA99bU8uzY&feature=related

Pierre Fournier in Tokyo 1954 with NHK SO/Aeschbacher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psEKUzba5MA&feature=related

Pierre Fournier again, with Celibidache

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XXLu1g95iI

Masses more on youtube - what a friend we have in youtube!

[Chris Newman]

I don't know the cellist, but Macal was conductor of the Czech Philharmonic for several years in the 2000s. I'd guess he's about 75 now. Classics for Pleasure have an excellent New World and Dvorak cello concerto by him (with Robert Cohen).

I agree, the Robert Cohen CC is very fine. It is a favourite of mine along with Rostropovich and Boult.

I have a soft spot for Antonio Janigro with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra under Dean Dixon which recording was the first time I ever heard the concerto in 1962.

[umslopogaas]

Thanks Pabmusic (6) and PJPJ (7). That's interesting, though very sad: it certainly explains why she vanished from sight. I'm also rather startled to learn that I have an LP worth "hundreds of dollars"! I'm well aware that some are, but very rarely those made by DG, as far as I can see (though the first issue DG Mravinsky recordings of Tchaikovsky symphonies 4, 5 and 6 can sell for around a hundred quid on ebay). I shall look after it carefully!

[Stanfordian]

With out doubt in the Dvorak Cello Concerto Rostropovich with the Berlin Philharmonic under Karajan is a first choice for me. I also admire Pierre Fournier's account also with the Berlin Philharmonic under George Szell.

[visualnickmos]

Agree - Fournier/Szell is quite marvellous. Also 'up there with the best' is Milos Sadlo, with the CPO/Neumann, with Dvorak's other (first) cello concerto... interesting and worth a listen.

[Roehre]

I've never otherwise heard of Anja Thauer (cello) or Zdenek Macal (conductor), anyone know any more about them? The record dates from 1968 and she is described as "an outstandingly accomplished cellist, and has everywhere met with enthusiastic applause."

A budget LP and MC of Anja Thauer's recording with the Czechs and Zdenek Macal (the concerto coupled with the Carnival oveture op.92) was released in the early 1970s on Heliodor (a Polydor/DGG budget sub-label).
It was my first Celloconcerto and am much impressed by it, but I've never seen it on CD (and my cassettetape has gone astray)

[PJPJ]

A budget LP and MC of Anja Thauer's recording with the Czechs and Zdenek Macal (the concerto coupled with the Carnival oveture op.92) was released in the early 1970s on Heliodor (a Polydor/DGG budget sub-label).
It was my first Celloconcerto and am much impressed by it, but I've never seen it on CD (and my cassettetape has gone astray)

It has, you won't be surprised to hear, appeared in Japan, on the Tower Records label.

My favourites are all the usual suspects above - thank goodness I don't have to decide which single one I'd keep. I added one recently, one I'd hoped to find on CD - Tortelier/Philharmonia/Sargent, 1956 stereo on a near mint HMV Concert Classics LP from my local Oxfam. And very good it is, too.

[mathias broucek]

Has anyone heard the du Pre / Stockholm Celibidache version?

Gets very mixed reviews.