Great (off the beaten track) Cello recordings

[stingo]

I'm looking to give a gift of recorded music to a dear friend who plays the cello. She particularly likes Baroque, but also enjoys Classical and Romantic as well. She's familiar with the mainstays (Bach's Suites, Elgar's, Dvorak's, Haydn's Concerti etc) so was hoping to surprise her with something she's not heard before. Any ideas? Thanks for the help.

[The new erato]

Alkan/Chopin cello sonatas on Hyperion? Fine disc.

[stingo]

Thanks, I'll check it out. I had thought of Chopin, but she might be familiar it already as she knows many of the composer's piano works. My current front runner so far is the Jean Barriere Sonatas on Alpha, but I'm always open to suggestions. (Especially since I plan to follow up on them for myself as well.)

Edited to add: I should also note that she reads the liner notes, so good and copious notes are a definite plus.

[Carolus]

Poulenc, Honegger, Auric, Milhaud, works for cello and piano. Koch-schwann Marcus Nyikos cello. If she knows those pieces, I'll eat mi hat.

[Scarpia]

Faure wrote several very nice pieces for cello and piano. 

[Bulldog]

Myaskovsky composed a dynamite Cello Concerto, and there are at least three current recordings of this work paired with his two Cello Sonatas (Regis, Arte Nova and Cello Classics).

[Opus106]

I'm looking to give a gift of recorded music to a dear friend who plays the cello. She particularly likes Baroque...

In terms off-the-beaten-track instruments, there are a few recordings of Bach's cello suites played on instruments that are forefathers and cousins of the modern cello. Some period instrument recommendations from Que. There's also Sigiswald Kuijken's reocrding on a "shoulder cello," (Accent) and Edgar Meyer's recording of it on a double bass.

[listener]

For "off the beaten track" without getting avant-garde you might consider this pairing of first recordings by Golterman (1824-1898) and Jeral (1861 - 1935).    They have a Dvořak-like sound, the Golterman slow movement sounds like he heard the Dvořak 9th Symphony but was written before it.   Good performances and sound on this new-to-me label (XXI-21).   Concertos run 21-22 min each, the Wolf suite (not with cello solo) is a pleasant 17 min.

[The new erato]

Here is link to some samples of Kodaly's work ... Music for Cello

None of the other suggestions here really approach this ... believe me. If she plays the cello, she'll love this stuff. It's the best since Bach's suites.

Yep. Only reason I didn't suggest it was a brainfart.

[The new erato]

Down in that wine cellar again ?   

Yepp!. Chablis and Clementi now.

[stingo]

While I'd enjoy the Kodaly, my friend still mourns what she feels Bartok did to folk music, so I don't see that flying with her. Will research the other selections.

[Franco]

This three disc set has a wonderful selection of 20th C. works for cello.

I'll second the recommendations of the Kodaly Sonata, but there are better recordings than the one offered by Naxos - Wispelwey for example, IMO.

[stingo]

Odd conclusion to draw my friend, since the music has nothing to do with Bartok at all ... and also considering this is top tier music for the instrument. Essential in otherwords.

Did I misunderstand "A tour de force that takes the folk tradition, in which Kodaly had immersed himself so thoroughly, and it gives the kind of acerbic modern spin that you normally associate with Bartok."? A modern spin on the folk tradition is exactly what my friend doesn't like - hence my conclusion, if that makes sense?

[Scarpia]

This three disc set has a wonderful selection of 20th C. works for cello.

I'll second the recommendations of the Kodaly Sonata, but there are better recordings than the one offered by Naxos - Wispelwey for example, IMO.

That disc of 20th century cello music is a great choice, IMO.  As to the Kodaly, I count it as music that is "better than it sounds."  It seems every recording of it states in the linear notes that it is the most important piece for solo cello since Bach.  I think it is a terrible comparison, because Bach wrote music which was supremely idiomatic to the cello, perfectly suited to its every attribute which, miraculously, seemed to evoke harmony and melody from what is largely a single melodic line.  Kodaly is intent on torturing the cello to make it sound like anything but a cello.  In one notorious passage the player must scrape out a melody high above the cello's natural range while simultaneously plucking the other three strings to simulate a violin accompanied by a village folk band.  What I don't understand is why people who would never willingly listen to a village folk band would want to hear one imitated by a virtuoso cellist.  In any case, players love the piece because it is a tour de force with every conceivable technical challenge. 

In any case, that 20th century collection has the Kodaly, so that's covered, but it has lots of other stuff.  That's good because it sounds like your friend will hate the Kodaly.   

On the other hand, you didn't mention any interest in 20th century music, maybe you could try something like this one:

[Superhorn]

  Prokofiev's Symphony-concertante for cello and orchestra is one of the greatest works of its kind. It's not an easy piece to grasp at first but it's a work that I've comet olove with repeated hearings.
  I have the Mischa Maisky/Pletnev recording on DG which I recommend highly , which is coupled with the Myaskovsky, which I also think is a great and sadly neglected work.
  The Rostropovich/Sargent recording of the Prokofiev on EMI is also justly famous. 

[dirkronk]

Dunno about the Kodaly op.8 being "better than it sounds" but I do know that I fell in love with the piece the very first time I heard it, in a mono recording by Janos Starker on Period LP. Still haven't heard anyone who beats him in this piece...though I should hasten to add that I have NOT yet heard Wispelway.

FWIW,

Dirk

[mc ukrneal]

Hard to say, since there are so many possibilities. Perhaps Offenbach Suites for two cellos?

[Scarpia]

Dunno about the Kodaly op.8 being "better than it sounds" but I do know that I fell in love with the piece the very first time I heard it, in a mono recording by Janos Starker on Period LP. Still haven't heard anyone who beats him in this piece...though I should hasten to add that I have NOT yet heard Wispelway.

FWIW,

Dirk

So many Starker recordings, I have this one



http://www.amazon.com/Introuvables-Janos-Starker-Box-Set/dp/B000005GU6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1268080183&sr=1-7

which may or may not have been done by Walter Legge.   Most recently I have listened to these versions:



and

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Was listening to this over the weekend. The cello sonatas are some of Martinu's best chamber music:

[Scarpia]

Was listening to this over the weekend. The cello sonatas are some of Martinu's best chamber music:

Mmmmmm, Martinu is a big favorite and I have that disc, although I haven't heard it in ages.