S: The second best Elgar Cello Concerto?

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

As you all know, 1000 out of 10 people will tell you, the best ever recorded Edward Elgar Cello Concerto is with Barbirolli/du Pré. I love it as well.



But I thought maybe there's one in good contemporary quality? So I'm searching for a modern, best quality recording. Which interpretation is the second best? Any du Pré competitors at the horizon?

[Wilhelm Richard]

Sorry, but the Barbirolli - du Pré is the second best...the live Barenboim - du Pré recording from 1970 is the best ever.

[eyeresist]

That live one is too crazy for me. The Barbirolli is less DuPre, more Elgar.
There are plenty of good recordings of this work, and if you're in a receptive mood, any of them will move you plenty!

[Bulldog]

I've been getting much pleasure from an Orfeo disc with cellist Daniel Muller-Schott and the Oslo Philharmonic led by Andre Previn.  Also has a great coupling, the Walton Cello Concerto.  Much less expensive is a Sony of the same program with Previn again and Ma.

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Oh, didn't know there's another du Pré recording.
Had a look at my local libraries web site, they've got this one, I'll get it today:



And btw, no Elgar books. They've got a lot of literature about music, composers, consuctors..., e.g. at least 15 Bruckner books... But not a single Elgar one. EDIT: OK, kind of: "Elgar, Britten & Co : eine Geschichte der britischen Musik in zwölf Portraits / Meinhard Saremba"

[jlaurson]

Sorry, but the Barbirolli - du Pré is the second best...the live Barenboim - du Pré recording from 1970 is the best ever.

No, wait... the Barbirolli-du Pré live recording from Prague is the best ever, right? 
(On Testament, very torn, modern opening. Probably not what Elgar had intended, because the opening is a phrase from a love letter, but what the heck.)


Elgar / Bach, Cello Concerto, 2 Suites, Barbi/du Pré - Testament

My favorite modern recording has got to be Jamie Walton's.



Elgar / Myaskovsky, Cello Concertos, J.Walton - Signum

...although what the English types don't seem to be noticing: the real kicker on that disc is the marvelous Myaskovsky concerto!

[DFO]

On Miaskovsky, best was Rostropovich with URSS State and Svetlanov (1964)
On Elgar, a rarity is Terti's transcription for viola and orch.

[mc ukrneal]

Oh, didn't know there's another du Pré recording.
Had a look at my local libraries web site, they've got this one, I'll get it today:



And btw, no Elgar books. They've got a lot of literature about music, composers, consuctors..., e.g. at least 15 Bruckner books... But not a single Elgar one. EDIT: OK, kind of: "Elgar, Britten & Co : eine Geschichte der britischen Musik in zwölf Portraits / Meinhard Saremba"

In addition to the Barneboim and two with Barbirolli, there is an earlier one with Sargent. I think it was on the BBC Legends label.

[DavidRoss]

Sorry, but the Barbirolli - du Pré is the second best...the live Barenboim - du Pré recording from 1970 is the best ever.

Boy, this really illustrates the idea of beauty residing in the ear of the behearer.  Du Pré's mawkishness makes that recording unlistenable for me.  I do agree, however, that the Barbirolli/du Pré recording is second best (at least in my collection).  First is Tortelier/Boult.

[Brian]

On Elgar, a rarity is Tertis' transcription for viola and orch.

Oh snap! I definitely would like to hear that sometime.

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

First is Tortelier/Boult.

Heresy! 

[DFO]

Oh snap! I definitely would like to hear that sometime.

Rivka Golani viola and Vernon Handley with RPO; Elgar-Tertis + Bax Phantasy for v.and o.
Conifer Classics 1989.

[hornteacher]

So I'm searching for a modern, best quality recording. Which interpretation is the second best?

Best is subjective but my personal favorite modern version is Natalie Clein's recent release.

[Sergeant Rock]

My favorite, after du Pré, du Pré and du Pré (haven't heard her with Sargent yet), is Maisky and Sinopoli.



The opening doesn't have an autumnal feel...we're deep into winter. A profound sadness hangs in the air. But it isn't overly sentimentalized; there is a stoic nobility to the entire concerto. Our British members needn't worry: nothing outlandish from Sinopoli; he plays it straight.

Sarge

[DavidRoss]

Heresy! 

Have you heard it? 

[imperfection]

My favorite, after du Pré, du Pré and du Pré (haven't heard her with Sargent yet), is Maisky and Sinopoli.



The opening doesn't have an autumnal feel...we're deep into winter. A profound sadness hangs in the air. But it isn't overly sentimentalized; there is a stoic nobility to the entire concerto. Our British members needn't worry: nothing outlandish from Sinopoli; he plays it straight.

Sarge

Seconded.

[Kuhlau]

Rivka Golani viola and Vernon Handley with RPO; Elgar-Tertis + Bax Phantasy for v.and o.
Conifer Classics 1989.

I have this. For me, the tone of the Viola alters the mood of the work. It becomes, in places, less tragic. Lovely transcription, however.

To throw yet more recordings into the mix, try Robert Cohen's with Mackerras (an old Argo release), and Maria Kliegel's account for Naxos. I'm confident that even Kliegel's detractors will love what she does with this work.

FK

[snyprrr]

Yes, I went for Julian Lloyd Webber here too. Whip me now!! I have a feeling I'm going to like it!

[71 dB]

...Maria Kliegel's account for Naxos. I'm confident that even Kliegel's detractors will love what she does with this work.

FK

That Naxos was the first version I heard of the work and kind of defines how it should be played to me. Since Kliegel takes certain parts of the work slowly, I tend to find other version "funny". I do like Starker/Slatkin, probably for the full rich sound.

[akiralx]

As a cellist I can confirm the BEST is Wispelwey's, better than any of du Pre's...