Benjamin Britten - Cello Suites Nos. 1 & 2; Cello Sonata (Mstislav Rostropovich)

Information

Composer: Benjamin Britten

1. Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: I. Canto primo (sostenuto e largamente)
2. Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: 1. Fuga: Andante moderato
3. Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: 2. Lamento: Lento rubato
4. Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: II. Canto secondo (sostenuto)
5. Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: 3. Serenata: Allegretto pizzicato
6. Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: 4. Marcia: Alla marcia moderato
7. Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: III. Canto terzo (sostenuto)
8. Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: 5. Bordone: Moderato quasi recitativo
9. Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: 6. Moto perpetuo e canto quarto: Presto
10. Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80: I. Declamato: Largo
11. Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80: II. Fuga: Andante
12. Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80: III. Scherzo: Allegro molto
13. Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80: IV. Andante lento
14. Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80: V. Ciaccona: Allegro
15. Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 65: I. Dialogo
16. Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 65: II. Scherzo-pizzicato
17. Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 65: III. Elegia
18. Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 65: IV. Marcia
19. Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 65: V. Moto perpetuo

Mstislav Rostropovich, cello
Benjamin Britten, piano (15-19)

Date: 1961 (15-19), 1968 (1-14)
Label: Decca
http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4218592

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Review

GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE

This is a classic recording of the Cello Sonata, with Rostropovich and Britten playing with an authority impossible to surpass, and is here ­coupled with the unaccompanied First and Second Cello Suites. The suggestive, often biting humour masks darker feelings. However, Britten manages, just, to keep his devil under control. Rostropovich’s and Britten’s characterisation in the opening Dialogo is stunning and their subdued humour in the Scherzo-pizzicato also works well. In the Elegia and the final Moto perpetuo, again, no one quite approaches the passion and energy of Rostropovich. This work, like the two Suites, was written for him and he still remains the real heavyweight in all three pieces. Their transfer to CD is remarkably successful; it’s difficult to believe that these recordings were made in the 1960s.

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https://www.amazon.com/Cello-Suites-Sonatas-Piano/dp/B0000041UY

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Benjamin Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British classical music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. Over the next 28 years, he wrote 14 more operas, establishing himself as one of the leading 20th-century composers in the genre. Britten's other works range from orchestral to choral, solo vocal, chamber and instrumental as well as film music. Britten was also a celebrated pianist and conductor, performing many of his own works in concert and on record.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Britten

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Mstislav Rostropovich (March 27, 1927 – April 27, 2007), was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He is considered to be one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was well known for both inspiring and commissioning new works, which enlarged the cello repertoire more than any cellist before or since. He inspired and premiered over 100 pieces, forming long-standing friendships and artistic partnerships with composers such as Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev, ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mstislav_Rostropovich

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