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

[Barbirollians]

It is slow but she plays beautifully . The 1967 Proms du Pre/Groves on BBC Legends is her best performance IMO. Great shame she did not record it with Barbirolli- a great Dvorak conductor

[gurnemanz]

It is not an absolute favourite work but I have fond memories of two great live performances: Alban Gerhardt with Jurowski a few months ago on the Southbank and Fournier with the Gewandhaus in Leipzig over 30 years ago.

A while ago I got the out of print Schiff/Previn/VPO version second-hand from Amazon. I had decided that it was the one to have, based on reading reviews and was not disappointed. I can't compare because it's the only one I have. Still plenty of sellers there:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dvor%C3%A1k-Cello-Concerto-etc-Heinrich/dp/B00000E51G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315583009&sr=8-1

[Curalach]

I have three versions: Schiff/VPO/Previn, Helmerson/Gothenburg/Jarvi and Walevska/LPO/Gibson. It's so long since I listened to any of them that I would be hard pressed to state a preference!

[salymap]

Paul Tortelier, Philharmonia, Sargent, because I 'grew up' with it and still love it.

[reinerfan]

I am lucky enough to have 21 different versions of the work, all of which have something interesting to say, but the 3 that I prefer are Rostropovich/Talich, Sadlo/Neumann and Fournier/Szell.

[mikealdren]

Another vote for Rostropovich with Boult his later recordings became to mannered for me and never quite captured the overall feeling for the piece..

Mike

[Barbirollians]

I have played that Rost/Boult recording a number of times recently and I have enjoyed it greatly.

[Dave2002]

The BBC Music Magazine has a few recommendations for "the" Dvorak cello concerto this month. They seem to quite like Boult/Rostropovich.

The first version on LP I heard was, I think, with Ludwig Hoelscher and the Bamberg SO, conducted by Keilberth on Telefunken. I'm sure it was a mono LP , though I've seen a highly priced stereo one on eBay recently. A few years ago I did manage to acquire a CD which I think may be the same performance as the one I first heard. I certainly enjoyed that performance when I first heard it, though I'm not so sure it has the same effect now.

I note also that Schiff/Davis is a recommendation, though following comments here I sent off for a "pre-owned" copy of the Previn version, which I hope will come in a day or two.

PS:I also noted that there's another Previn version, with Tortelier, and I just noticed an old LP cover on eBay which reminded me of Lynn Harrell and James Levine - also very good. (Boy, do they look young on that cover now!)

[gurnemanz]

PS I've just noticed that Heinrich Schiff with Previn and VPO which I thought was out of print is available coupled with BPO and Haitink in Schumann on German Eloquence. Amazon.de have it for 5.99 Euro

http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00187AFP4/ref=dm_dp_cdp?ie=UTF8&s=music

[clive heath]

Pablo Casals' recording of this composition with Szell and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra was mentioned on R3 this morning and quite coincidentally I have just uploaded my attempt at restoration to my site. You can read "The Gramophone"'s review of this recording here
http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page....+Auto+DB84204.
which is mostly a celebration of the composition rather than the 1937 (?) performance. Casals is closely miked and the physicality of his performance is audible in both the attack of bow to string and in the occasional finger-popping as his fingers press and release the strings.

http://www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk/transcriptions_07.php

[pastoralguy]

My goodness - I've just counted my recordings of this wonderful piece and find I have (at least!) 32 recordings. I can't honestly say any of them are 'duff' and all have given me a great deal of enjoyment.

I suppose, if I HAD to choose one version, it would have to be Rostropovich with Herbie and his band but only 'cause that was my first.

(Does anyone have an opinion on the recently re-released Wallfisch/Mackerras version on Chandos?)

[Chris Newman]

Since I proposed my favourites in Message 9 I have found a couple of new ones, one as a result of a Prom, and the other after watching the player on the Arte Live Web. The Prom by Jean-Guihen Queyras with Jirí Belohlávek (and the BBCSO) last year was something special and I discovered that they have recorded it (with the Prague Philharmonia, the orchestra founded by JB)) and a magnificent filler as well: Dvorak's heart-rending Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90 (B166) 'Dumky' with again Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello), Isabelle Faust (violin) & Alexander Melnikov (piano).

Otherwise Gautier Capuçon shows why he is such a sought after cellist with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and Paavo Järvi.

I shall try to find time to fit Clive Heath's recommendation (Message 25) as he has the knack of finding and improving gems.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Slava & Herbie for me, too. I first heard the work from Rostropovich's earlier recording with Tallich on Supraphon, which I borrowed from school for the Christmas holidays of 1976. I've not heard this since!

The Boult was a BaL first choice on Record Review (sic) many years ago. It never caught my youthful admiration, but perhaps I'm at an age when it might. /

[Black Swan]

Having grown up in Bloomington, Indiana, I was fortunate to hear Starker perform the work live 2 times, as he was on the faculty of Indiana University. My favorite recording is Fournier and Szell. I also have a recording of Slava with Ozawa and the Boston Symphony which includes the Variations on a Rococo theme.

J

[pastoralguy]

Since I proposed my favourites in Message 9 I have found a couple of new ones, one as a result of a Prom, and the other after watching the player on the Arte Live Web. The Prom by Jean-Guihen Queyras with Jirí Belohlávek (and the BBCSO) last year was something special and I discovered that they have recorded it (with the Prague Philharmonia, the orchestra founded by JB)) and a magnificent filler as well: Dvorak's heart-rending Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90 (B166) 'Dumky' with again Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello), Isabelle Faust (violin) & Alexander Melnikov (piano).

This is a SUPER cd!! I recommend it wholeheartedly