Boccherini: Cello Concerti

[Tamsin]

Any recommendations, please? I've been collecting Boccherini but don't own any of his cello concertos yet. Thanks in advance!

[mc ukrneal]

Any recommendations, please? I've been collecting Boccherini but don't own any of his cello concertos yet. Thanks in advance!

I think Anner Bylsma does a great job. I have her with the Tafelmusik on Sony, which doesn't appear to be in print. But I see she has a disc on Apex (different orchestra) and DHM (again with Tafelmusik, and appears to be a dfferent program). I really enjoy her playing in these works, so you might try one of them.

I've not heard the works on Naxos. I have Du Pre on #9, but never felt this one really suits her (although she is of course a very good performer).

[71 dB]

I own the first volume on Naxos (Tim Hugh). Nothing to complain about.

[Grazioso]

I think Anner Bylsma does a great job. I have her with the Tafelmusik on Sony, which doesn't appear to be in print. But I see she has a disc on Apex (different orchestra) and DHM (again with Tafelmusik, and appears to be a dfferent program). I really enjoy her playing in these works, so you might try one of them.

Not a she:

[mc ukrneal]

Not a she:

Ooops! Thanks  - I always had the name 'Anne' in my head for some reason. Obviously, I've never seen HIM in concert (and this was the only disc I had of him playing anything).

[SonicMan46]

Well, there is a Boccherini Thread HERE w/ some recommendations - 

[stingo]

Brilliant's edition of the cello concerti is very good.

[DavidW]

Agree with uknreal, Bylsma is dynamite in Boccherini!  The playing is so amazing, it's a good cd just to showcase how great this cellist is.  Anyway I have a cd that mixes it up with some sinfonias.  I should give it a spin now.

[Sorin Eushayson]

I have Bylsma's, which is good, no doubt about it, but I thought this presented something a bit more idiomatic...


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BLI3NO

The kind of lively performances one would expect of Spanish-Italian music from this period.  I might have liked a little continuo, but other than I have no complaints.

[Gurn Blanston]

I have Bylsma's, which is good, no doubt about it, but I thought this presented something a bit more idiomatic...


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BLI3NO

The kind of lively performances one would expect of Spanish-Italian music from this period.  I might have liked a little continuo, but other than I have no complaints.

Despite the fact that Bylsma is by miles my favorite cellist, I agree with you, Sorin. I actually thought I was the only one who really liked this Brilliant set; nice to see that you and Stingo are on board with me.



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Now playing:
Les Adieux - Jadin, H. Trio #2 in G for Strings 1st mvmt - Allegro

This is an excellent disk that I recommend to anyone who likes really nice late Classical Era music. The music is French, but don't let that stop you.

[Sorin Eushayson]

Despite the fact that Bylsma is by miles my favorite cellist, I agree with you, Sorin. I actually thought I was the only one who really liked this Brilliant set; nice to see that you and Stingo are on board with me.

Well, you know what they say about great minds...

[Gurn Blanston]

Well, you know what they say about great minds...

They must have been talking about yours; you know what they say about mine...



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Now playing:
Les Adieux - Jadin, H. Trio #3 in F for Strings 2nd mvmt - Menuet: Andante & Trio: Allegro

[SonicMan46]

Well, concerning Luigi's Cello Concerti, there seems to be a number of offerings - I currently own the ones by Julius Berger & Timothy Hugh, the former on a Brilliant set shown below & the latter on two volumes on Naxos - think that I like the Berger set the best. 

The Brilliant set shown consists of 7 discs w/ 3 devoted to Boccherini - the cellist on the other set shown is different, so hence the reason(s) that this label decided to present the same material w/ different performers & orchestras, but that is often their 'mindset', I guess?

Now, the Berger performances are played w/ the Pforzheim Southwest German Chamber Orchestra conducted by Vladislav Czarnecki; the liner notes are not clear about the 'hipness' of these performances, but the entire package is an absolute bargain - just not sure 'how available' the set may be at present?  Dave

[Tamsin]

Thank you everyone for the recommendations. I haven't logged in for a while so I was delighted to see replies to my old post. I will add everything to my Amazon wishlist and see which ones I end up getting for my bday later this month

[Guido]

Ordinarily I'd recommend Tim Hugh in anything he's recorded - a sublime player, especially in his recordings of 20th century English cello concertos on Naxos (Bliss, Finzi, Walton, Britten) but his recordings of classical concertos (he's recorded highly attractive ones by ones by Hoffman too) he is merely very good - characterful and beautiful playing, but not quite touching the levels of sublimity of the aforementioned English masterpieces.

Not sure about this repertoire - I've never heard recordings that I've truly adored, but then I've never searched that thoroughly. The concertos, like the cello quintets, are gems of the Rococo era.

[aligreto]

I have recently made the purchase above and posted my listening sessions in the Listening thread generating some discussion as a result.I was heartened to see that some other listeners value this music as much as I do.

The only other complete Boccherini Cello Concertos cycle that I own is that performed by Tim Hugh and Raphael Wallfisch on Naxos. These are well interpreted and well played, lively performances but I wanted an alternative complete set so I bought the Brilliant set performed by Bronzi/Accademia i Filamonica di Verona. This cycle performed by Bronzi on Brilliant is very different to the Naxos cycle, particularly those played by Hugh. The Brilliant set is more direct, energetic, dynamic and has a fuller sound and more presence than the Naxos cycle. The performances, if somewhat truncated, are more direct and assertive and have more presence than those of the Hugh performances. However, Hugh on Naxos has a more refined and delicate approach which, depending on mood, is or is not a more preferred option. Wallfisch is somewhere between Hugh and Bronzi in terms of performance but closer to the Bronzi in terms of recording presence. As a direct result of A/B listening between the two cycles I had originally planned on culling the Naxos CDs from my collection but I have now changed my mind, now wanting to keep the [particularly more gentle, thoughtful versions by Hugh] on Naxos as a direct alternative. 


Turner also recently recommended the Geringas cycle....

[SonicMan46]

   


I have recently made the purchase above and posted my listening sessions in the Listening thread generating some discussion as a result.I was heartened to see that some other listeners value this music as much as I do.

The only other complete Boccherini Cello Concertos cycle that I own is that performed by Tim Hugh and Raphael Wallfisch on Naxos. These are well interpreted and well played, lively performances but I wanted an alternative complete set so I bought the Brilliant set performed by Bronzi/Accademia i Filamonica di Verona. This cycle performed by Bronzi on Brilliant is very different to the Naxos cycle, particularly those played by Hugh. The Brilliant set is more direct, energetic, dynamic and has a fuller sound and more presence than the Naxos cycle. The performances, if somewhat truncated, are more direct and assertive and have more presence than those of the Hugh performances. However, Hugh on Naxos has a more refined and delicate approach which, depending on mood, is or is not a more preferred option. Wallfisch is somewhere between Hugh and Bronzi in terms of performance but closer to the Bronzi in terms of recording presence. As a direct result of A/B listening between the two cycles I had originally planned on culling the Naxos CDs from my collection but I have now changed my mind, now wanting to keep the [particularly more gentle, thoughtful versions by Hugh] on Naxos as a direct alternative. 

Well, the last few days, I've been reading various reviews on the 'complete' recordings of the dozen Cello Concertos - for myself, I own the 2 Tim Hugh discs on Naxos but not their 3rd volume w/ Wallfisch + the Julius Berger recordings (3 discs in the Brilliant box, above right).  Now, I've not heard the Bronzi performances, BUT am now listening to those by Geringas on Spotify (iPad plugged into the AUX jack on my stereo, so good sound) - the sound is excellent, the cellist miked closely (which I like), and the orchestra fine; the Amazon MP has a 'used set' for $30 which I likely will not pursue since the Spotify sound is quite acceptable - just check Spotify and the Bronzi recordings are there also!

For those interested, I've look at a number of reviews over 2 days, mainly those of the performances by Berger & Geringas - these are attached - still listening to Geringas and really enjoying.  Dave

[Turner]

Just repeating my recommendation for Geringas, mentioned above. Noble, yet lively performances. I personally prefer it to the Brilliant set. The sets are quite different from each other, though.

[SonicMan46]

Just repeating my recommendation for Geringas, mentioned above. Noble, yet lively performances. I personally prefer it to the Brilliant set. The sets are quite different from each other, though.

Hi Turner - just for clarification, there are two Brilliant boxes w/ these works - I'm assuming you're referring to the Bronzi one and not the Berger performances, or both?  I'm still listening to Geringas on Spotify - will give Bronzi a listen this afternoon.  Dave

[Turner]

Yes, I mean Bronzi, haven't heard Berger, sorry.