20th Century Cello and Piano Works

Advantages: The finest recording on two CDs
Disadvantages: You can only listen to one CD at a time!

...This double CD from a large collection brings together what are considered to be the finst recordings ever made by the artist. The version of Rachmaninov's Piano Cencerto No. 3 is perhaps the definitive recording: technically brilliant and a joy to listen to, and by far my favourite version. She has chosen the scherzo-like cadenza which Rachmaninov himself favoured. Also featured are Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit among other things. For piano music lovers, these are some of the best recordings I have heard. Highly recommended to all.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: It is simply one of the finest pieces of music ever written
Disadvantages: How dare you ask of any disadvantges!?!

...a melody in 9/8 time. In May, Elgar, his wife Alice, and daughter Carice went to their summer residence of Brinkwells, a cottage in Sussex, for some rural relaxation and healing (Elgar loved the countryside). Finally, in August, he suddenly was attacked by a great surge of creativity. He had his piano taken out of storage and wrote a Violin Sonata in E minor, Op.82, which was soon followed by the String Quartet in E minor, Op.83 and Piano Quintet in A minor, Op.84. This sudden surge showed a new streak of creative development in Elgar's music that was more elusive, economical and a million miles away from his bombastic past. The three works were premiered in May 1919, after which Elgar set out on his great summation of this new style (as well as career): the Cello Concerto in E minor, Op.85. There is not much documentation of the work... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: One of the most Romantic concertos around, full of beautiful melodies and passion
Disadvantages: over-recorded

...by the Moscow Philharmonic Society and conducted by Alexander Siloti with Basil Sapellnikov at the piano, was a huge success. Other new works presented at the concert also included the Cello Sonata, the cantata Spring, a piano prelude in G minor and the twelve songs of Op.21. The Concerto was dedicated to Dr. Dahl, and it is through this work that his name is best remembered today. The Second Concerto is cast in C minor, and it is this work that defined the sound of Rachmaninov for years to come. Gone were the more modern aspects of his First Symphony, and instead Rachmaninov created a virtuoso concerto in the 19th century Romantic tradition of Tchaikovsky, full of pathos, heart-on-sleeve romanticism and magnificently lyrical melodies around every turn. It is this pure melodic writing that appealed to the general public and established Rachmaninov... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful