Cello Music?

[Moosbrugger]

I love the sound of the cello. So, I'd appreciate some suggestions from the group.

 

Bach's Cello Suites: I have Yo Yo Ma's version -- unfortunately an iTunes download. Is there a Pablo Casals version with good sound? Any other versions worth trying?

 

I have a copy of Dvorak's Cello Concerto, and I may pick up the one discussed in the Album of the Evening thread.

 

I picked up a copy of Jewish Cello Masterpieces on a whim. It's really beautiful.

 

Any other suggestions?

[Musicophile]

Given that Casal's recording are from the 1930s you won't find anything that sounds anywhere close to hifi. But if you can live with tape noise, Casals is bearable sonically.

 

Otherwise we had an entire thread on the Bach suites here:

 

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f15-music-general/bach-cello-suites-16335/

 

My favorite most of the time is Isserlis, the same from the recent Dvorak concerto.

 

Other beautiful and well known cello concertos were written by Haydn, Schumann, Boccherini and Elgar.

 

You also have the sonatas for cello and piano, e.g. by Beethoven and Brahms.

 

Among my favorite cellists are Jacqueline du Pré, Steven Isserlis, Sol Gabetta (check out her Progetto Vivaldi where she plays the Four Seasons on a cello), and Janos Starker.

[DaQi]

I mostly listen to Jazz and there is a Vancouver based Jazz Cellist named Peggy Lee who I listen to and enjoy quite a bit. It is mostly ensemble stuff that she does but some interesting music featuring cello including a collaboration with a Taiko band (Uzume Taiko - Chirashi) which is quite interesting.

[baxtus]

Some glorious cello works in wonderful recorded sound may be found here:

 

Search results for: 'Wispelwey' - Channel Classics Records

 

The cello is a sublime instrument, yes.

[deltasun]

Given that Casal's recording are from the 1930s you won't find anything that sounds anywhere close to hifi. But if you can live with tape noise, Casals is bearable sonically.

 

Otherwise we had an entire thread on the Bach suites here:

 

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f15-music-general/bach-cello-suites-16335/

 

My favorite most of the time is Isserlis, the same from the recent Dvorak concerto.

 

Other beautiful and well known cello concertos were written by Haydn, Schumann, Boccherini and Elgar.

 

You also have the sonatas for cello and piano, e.g. by Beethoven and Brahms.

 

Among my favorite cellists are Jacqueline du Pré, Steven Isserlis, Sol Gabetta (check out her Progetto Vivaldi where she plays the Four Seasons on a cello), and Janos Starker.

 

Which of du Pré's recordings would you recommend - SQ-wise and performance-wise?

[Musicophile]

Which of du Pré's recordings would you recommend - SQ-wise and performance-wise?

I know that HDTracks has quite a number of 24/96 remasters, which I've never heard.

 

I have this box, bought back in the 90s.

 

Amazon.com: Favorite Cello Concertos: Music

 

Musically I can recommend it fully, especially for the Haydn. And for most of the other concerto's her very lyrical tone, which is very much like singing, makes them worth checking out.

 

Sound quality wise it is more than ok, not really audiophile to my ears though.

 

I also seem to remember that somebody recommended the Elgar 24 bit remaster in the "Recordings To Die For" thread. So they must have done something right.

[astrotoy]

For du Pre, I think her early EMI recordings of the Elgar and Delius Concerto are fabulous (my copies are original vinyl - EMI ASD644 and ASD655 - early labels and I also have the EMI SACD issue). Also the recording with Stephen Bishop (nee Kovacevich) on EMI HQS vinyl. I think most of du Pre's recordings are also on CD - have not heard them in that format.

 

There are a large number of great cellists not yet mentioned - the old ones include Emanuel Feuermann (before 1940), Gregor Piatigorsky (some RCA SACD's) and Pierre Fournier (through the '60's), Mstislav Rostropovich (long career, earlier is generally better), Daniel Shafran (underrated). Then moving up a bit is Lynn Harrell (contemporary of Yo-Yo Ma), Anner Bylsma (baroque cello - great Bach cello suites recording), Steve Isserlis (who has been mentioned). Some young cellists include Gauthier Capucon, Alisa Weilerstein and Han-Na Chang (who is doing more conducting these days). I've seen the last four plus Ma and Pieter Wispelwey play in concerts in the last two or three years - all in London.

 

A couple more cello pieces not yet mentioned - the Brahms Double Concerto (he didn't write a cello concerto, but this is close). My favorite is the Bruno Walter on Columbia with Pierre Fournier playing cello. Also the Walton Cello concerto is very fine. Piatigorsky's performance on RCA is a favorite.

 

Also lots of cello chamber music - Brahms and Beethoven Cello/Piano Sonatas, the Franck Cello (originally violin) Sonata are a few.

 

Larry

[Musicophile]

 

There are a large number of great cellists not yet mentioned - the old ones include Emanuel Feuermann (before 1940), Gregor Piatigorsky (some RCA SACD's) and Pierre Fournier (through the '60's), Mstislav Rostropovich (long career, earlier is generally better), Daniel Shafran (underrated). Then moving up a bit is Lynn Harrell (contemporary of Yo-Yo Ma), Anner Bylsma (baroque cello - great Bach cello suites recording), Steve Isserlis (who has been mentioned). Some young cellists include Gauthier Capucon, Alisa Weilerstein and Han-Na Chang (who is doing more conducting these days). I've seen the last four plus Ma and Pieter Wispelwey play in concerts in the last two or three years - all in London.

Agree on all of those. I just didn't want to make it too big a list for a newcomer. I'm otherwise happy to add to the younger generation Ophélie Gaillard, who has done a very nice recent recording of the Brahms Cello Suites, Jean-Guilhen Queyras, and Truls Mork, who with Chailly, Vadim Repin, and the Leipzig Gewandhaus has made one of the best recent recordings of the Brahms Double Concerto.

 

Piatigorsky has written a brilliant autobiography by the way, which unfortunately is out of print in English, but it is now legally available online:

 

Cellist, Gregor Piatigorsky's Autobiography

 

In this he describes his life from Russia via Berlin to the US, and him working with Rubinstein, Heifetz etc.

[Snowmonkey]

Of course, probably the best known and most loved cello piece to the world at large is Saint-Saëns' Le Cygne (The Swan) from the Carnival of the Animals. Choose your performance - all the greats have done it.

[Arno Klee]

Cello is certainly one of my favorite instruments.

 

 

For Bach, I would explore the Janos Starker performance. But also Pieter Wispelwey is among my favorites.

The Haydn Cello Concertos are also very worthwhile listening to. The performance of Wendy Warner is top. You get as a bonus a very nice recording of cello concerto from a fairly unknown composer Mysliveček.

For Dvorak, I enjoy listening to Pieter Wispelwey and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. It comes with a number of other lesser known works on Cello.

 

 

Regards,

 

Arno.

[Musicophile]

I know that HDTracks has quite a number of 24/96 remasters, which I've never heard.

 

I have this box, bought back in the 90s.

 

Amazon.com: Favorite Cello Concertos: Music

 

Musically I can recommend it fully, especially for the Haydn. And for most of the other concerto's her very lyrical tone, which is very much like singing, makes them worth checking out.

 

Sound quality wise it is more than ok, not really audiophile to my ears though.

 

I also seem to remember that somebody recommended the Elgar 24 bit remaster in the "Recordings To Die For" thread. So they must have done something right.

I just read a nice quote from Rostropovitch who allegedly refused to re-record Elgar (after a very early recording in the 1920s) after hearing du Pré playing because he felt she just "owned" the piece.

[firedog]

And now for something completely different:

 

Chamber Music (Ballake Sissoko and Vincent Segal album) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal - Chamber Music

[InfernoSTi]

I enjoy this one from HDTT:

 

Shostakovich Cello Sonata in D minor op.40 (Title: Shostakovich Sonata in D minor op.40 for Cello and Piano)

Daniel Shafran, Cello Lydia Pecherskaya, Piano

Source used for Transfer: 5ips 2-track tape

Recording Info: Recorded by RCA 1961

 

Shostakovich Cello Sonata in D minor op.40 / 24/192

 

Here is one, also from HDTT, that I haven't heard but might try sometime when I'm in the mood:

 

Cello & Piano Music By Delius, Bridge & Bach 24/192

 

Best,

John

[jtwrace]

Not classical but they're amazing if you like Cello.

 

2CELLOS Home | The Official 2CELLOS Site

 

Take a look at the video's. That's all I can say.

[Priaptor]

Camden Shaw Cello Solo

 

6moons.com music reviews: Camden Shaw plays Bach, Kodaly and Ligeti

 

I am not sure what happened to Unipheye Music but this is a great recording if you can find it

[Gary]

Zoe Keating. Also not classical. All of her albums are good -- can't wait for her next one. This is her website: Zoë Keating: cellist, composer & performer

[blaven]

I have the 2 Cellos CD, and find it interesting, unique, and enjoyable.

 

Ultimately, it seems somewhat "gimmicky" for lack of a better word. It also isn't the best recording.

 

There is a boatload of talent exhibited.

 

In any case, its uniqueness alone, makes it a great purchase. It is a pretty cool album to listen to, just not a top-notch recording sonically, in my opinion.

[CoolHand]

Here are some more, top ranking for both performance & fidelity from my library in no particular order:

 

Ray Brown-Jazz Cello

Jordi Savall/Hesperion XXI-Tous Le Matin Du Monde/Dix Ans Après

Oscar Pettiford-All The Things You Are

Luigi Piovano-Bach Cello Suites

Sam Jones-Visitation

Pieter Wispelwey & Florigellium-Antonio Vivaldi 6 Cello Suites

Harry Babasin-These Foolish Things

Maria Kliegel-Schumann Cello Concerto in A Minor

The London Cello Sound

Dave Holland:Life Cycle-Resolution

[Moosbrugger]

Piatigorsky has written a brilliant autobiography by the way, which unfortunately is out of print in English, but it is now legally available online:

 

Cellist, Gregor Piatigorsky's Autobiography

 

A simple question and it could cost me a fortune. Thank's for all of the great recommendations.

 

I did a quick search, and Piatigorsky's autobiography is available online.

[Musicophile]

I just read a nice quote from Rostropovitch who allegedly refused to re-record Elgar (after a very early recording in the 1920s) after hearing du Pré playing because he felt she just "owned" the piece.

FYI, the Elgar Du Pré just made it into the 2013 Stereophile Recordings To Die For.

 

2013 Records To Die For Page 2 | Stereophile.com

[mkrzych]

Hey, I discovered recently this recordings and I am really enjoying it!

 

Edward Elgar : Cello Concerto, Op. 85 - Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme Op. 33 | Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky par Jean-Guihen Queyras – Télécharger et écouter l'album

 

[christopher3393]

A simple question and it could cost me a fortune. Thank's for all of the great recommendations.

 

I did a quick search, and Piatigorsky's autobiography is available online.

 

Well, I for one thank you for asking questions like this and hope you'll continue as the spirit moves you. Now to complicate this a little more, do you like the sound of a viola da gamba? If you haven't explored this, you may enjoy some of the baroque compositions of M Sainte Columbe and Marin Marais performed by artists such as Jordi Savall and Hille Perl, both masters in my amateur opinion. You might find this a good place to begin:

Tous Les Matins Du Monde - Original Soundtrack / Jordi Savall | ArkivMusic

[accwai]

[...] do you like the sound of a viola da gamba? If you haven't explored this, you may enjoy some of the baroque compositions of M Sainte Columbe and Marin Marais performed by artists such as Jordi Savall and Hille Perl, both masters in my amateur opinion. You might find this a good place to begin:

Tous Les Matins Du Monde - Original Soundtrack / Jordi Savall | ArkivMusic

 

That one was already mentioned earlier in this thread. I was going to point out the difference but then thought it probably isn't worth the hair splitting. In any case, from Hille Perl, Sainte Colombe: Retrouvé & Changé is really beautiful.

[Boris75]

Hey, I discovered recently this recordings and I am really enjoying it!

 

Edward Elgar : Cello Concerto, Op. 85 - Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme Op. 33 | Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky par Jean-Guihen Queyras*– Télécharger et écouter l'album

 

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Thanks for the recommendation. I think I am going to get it as I start being a bit tired of J. DuPré's reference version. I have nothing against DuPré/Barbirolli, but I have just listened to it too many times. I heard a bit of Queyras' interpretation (of the Elgar) on the ratio a couple of weeks ago, and he sounded very different from DuPré.

[Frankophile]

the Pieter Wispelwey version is my favourite, fantastic well recorded and played.

is

Given that Casal's recording are from the 1930s you won't find anything that sounds anywhere close to hifi. But if you can live with tape noise, Casals is bearable sonically.

 

Otherwise we had an entire thread on the Bach suites here:

 

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f15-music-general/bach-cello-suites-16335/

 

My favorite most of the time is Isserlis, the same from the recent Dvorak concerto.

 

Other beautiful and well known cello concertos were written by Haydn, Schumann, Boccherini and Elgar.

 

You also have the sonatas for cello and piano, e.g. by Beethoven and Brahms.

 

Among my favorite cellists are Jacqueline du Pré, Steven Isserlis, Sol Gabetta (check out her Progetto Vivaldi where she plays the Four Seasons on a cello), and Janos Starker.