Ludwig van Beethoven - Cello Sonatas (Mstislav Rostropovich; Sviatoslav Richter)

Information

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

CD1:

• (01-02) Cello Sonata No. 1 in F major, Op. 5/1
• (03-04) Cello Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 5/2
• (05-07) Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69

CD2:

• (01-02) Cello Sonata No. 4 in C major, Op. 102/1
• (03-05) Cello Sonata No. 5 in D major, Op. 102/1

Mstislav Rostropovich, cello
Sviatoslav Richter, piano

Date: 1963
Label: Philips
http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4646772

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Review

This was one of the great recordings of the 1960s, and it still sounds magnificent. Richter rightly sees the piano as being of equal importance with the cello, yet although he plays with assertion and virility, he never drowns the cello. (All praise to the balance engineer.) His technique is phenomenal. Would any other pianist today risk such a breakneck tempo in the finale of the G minor? In the first movement (both repeats take it almost up to 20 minutes, and I'm not complaining), some of Richter's triplet quavers come very near to losing their clarity, but his flamboyance and aggression pay off, and his phrasing is always a joy. Then there's Rostropovich, the supreme cellist of our time, his technique astonishing, his musicianship mesmeric. In my experience, the Op. 5 Sonatas have never sounded so compelling. I did just wonder if the Op. 69 Sonata in A might have benefited from a slightly more relaxed approach from the pianist, a touch more expression in the slow movement (why, on why did Beethoven limit it to only 18 bars?), but this too is an unforgettable performance of the highest quality, and in those enigmatic Op. 102 Sonatas the players reveal subtleties that make them much more approachable than usual.

In murky piano writing below the bass stave, for instance in the D major's fugue, the CD version is a little clearer than the LP, but in general the latter is almost as pleasing. In short, these are splendid recordings of inspirational performances, and they can be strongly recommended both on CD and LP.

-- Gramophone

More reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Cello-Sonatas-Ludwig-van-Beethoven/dp/B000051YD5
http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Complete-Music-Cello-Piano/dp/B0000041A9

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Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. Beethoven is acknowledged as a giant of classical music, and his influence on subsequent generations was profound. His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas and 16 string quartets. Many of his most admired works come from the last decade of his life, when he was almost completely deaf.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven

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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, Henri Dutilleux, Witold Lutosławski, Olivier Messiaen and Benjamin Britten.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mstislav_Rostropovich

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Sviatoslav Richter (March 20 [O.S. March 7] 1915 – August 1, 1997) was a Soviet pianist known for the depth of his interpretations, virtuoso technique, and vast repertoire. He is considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. Richter worked tirelessly to learn new pieces. His vast repertoire, around eighty different programs, not counting chamber works, ranged from Handel and Bach to Szymanowski, Berg, Webern, Stravinsky, Bartók, Hindemith, Britten, and Gershwin. Despite his large discography, Richter disliked the recording process, and most of Richter's recordings originate from live performances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sviatoslav_Richter

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