Cheap Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky / Karajan, Rostropovich, (Music) (Mstislav Rostropovich, Antonin Dvorak, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker) Price

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Customer Reviews of Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky / Karajan, Rostropovich,

Rostropovich's legacy made through this recording
Along with the old mono recording of the Shostakovich Concerto No. 1 released in 1959 shortly after the concerto was written, this recording of the Dvorak Cello Concerto, released in 1969, is what essentially created the Rostropovich legend. It was only one of two cello concerto recordings to make Gramophone magaziens reader list of top 100 recordings of the 20th century. <
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>In that regard, it was the only recording I voted for in the Gramophone poll that was represented in the top 100 recordings of the 20th century (the top recording was Solti's Ring followed by Elgar's cello concerto from DuPre, something only a Brit would think of as one of the two best recordings of the 20th century.) <
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>Both conductor (Karajan) and soloist were reaching the peak of their existence after this legendary recording arrived. Having heard the soloists on a number of poorly recorded Soviet LPs of the St. Saens, Dvorak and other concerti (Rostropovich disdained the Elgar), this recording, which was one of the most technically advanced of its era, showed everyone why this cellist was an artist to reckon. <
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>What Rostropovich and DG engineers exposed in 1969 (when DG was still called DGG) was his stupendous technique and the volume of sound he could create using only the solo instrument. Yes, miking and recordings technology had something to do with this, but anyone that knew Rostropovich or heard him play in concert would attest that his sound was bigger than anyone else's. A cellist once explained to me that this was probably the result of the strings he chose, which would have the greatest alteration on sound. <
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>Needless to say, that sound still bursts forth in this recording, which will soon pass onto its fourth decade. For years it was universally selected as the top recommendation in this repertoire above players like Gendron, Fournier, Piatagorsky, Rose, Tortelier and even the more legendary Casals. No one had ever heard a sound like this cellist made, which was even more enhanced by his elegaic playing in the Tchaikovsky variations that accompany the concerto. <
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>Karajan, too, was still in ascension in the 1960s. His position in Europe was similar to Leonard Bernstein's role in North America, where the two kingpins regularly jet setted around the world to enterain audiences in London, Vienna, New York and Berlin. This is clearly one of the greatest recordings ever made and nothing that has happened since will diminish that. If you want to hear what made Rostropovish famous worldwide, buy this recording.

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Not the best version
This could have been the best recording of Dvorak's cello concerto available, if the conductor had been replaced. Despite his reputation, Karajan is - as too often is the case - the wrong man for conducting a demanding, powerful, lyrical, and passionate masterpiece. The orchestra is excellent and Slava's concentrated and beautiful playing is of course impeccable - five stars and beyond for that - but Karajan's clinical approach prevents the passion of this music to blossom. Perhaps the man never could stop thinking about how to eventually realize his seriously distorted ideological convictions - and thus he could never become really involved in the true humanism of music. In fact, comparing this version with Slava's other recordings (e.g., with Giulini, and Ozawa) of this work suggests that the cellist could not really develop his deep understanding during these sessions. Karajan's streamlined, bandwagon view of music and Slava's passionate musical humanism seem to belong to different worlds. <
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>In my view, the supreme Dvorak Cello concerto from Slava's hands came with Carlo Maria Giulini and London Philharmonic Orchestra (EMI). In contrast to the present account, where the stiff and stylish accompaniment don't fit the cellist's vision, that lyrical and powerful performance will move you to tears and blow your mind. <
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>[Karajan's fanatical admirers will not appreciate this review, but they know nothing about music...] <
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Amazingly beautiful music
This is a lovely piece of music. Really. You listen to this, and it's like, WOW. That's just beautiful. Because it really is. The cello part is nice and pretty, and like almost all Dvorak, it's exciting and bold. Dvorak has a very distinct style, and quite frankly, he's extremely talented. His music, including this, is wonderful. <
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>So getting the general music out of the way, the playing here is also incredible. The sound quality is surprisingly good and the music sounds great. Every sudden burst of volume is powerful and pretty at the same time. Rostropovich plays really well and everything is just so nice. <
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>The Tchaikovsky is also very nice. It's a nice little bonus alongside the main gem that is the cello concerto. With this wonderful recording and playing, the price shouldn't even matter, though I guess that it only helps that this is surprisingly cheap. It's a superb deal that I recommend whole-heartedly. It's a great CD that can be listened to at any time.