Shostakovich (Prokofiev) Cello Concertos

[snyprrr]

The first performance I've heard of Prokofiev's op.125 and never felt the need to hear another performance since I couldn't imagine another one actually being better.

Hopefully to arrive by the weekend.

I've spent waaay to much effort on this piece! Sure, it's a Cello Symphony, but,... mm,... I'm starting to think the world doesn't need Cello Symphonies. I mean, this one DOES go on for a good long while.

I KNOW- it IS "Perfect Music"- but- but- it DOES go on.

All I can say is, when someone DOESN'T get it with total confidence and fire, it tends to make the piece suck. So far, only Rosty has convinced me, and I'm hoping Miss Landyfingers will put my 'Ozawa' problem to rest. (not Ozawa, maybe the engineers)

[Karl Henning]

Ivashkin is very good here.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Ivashkin is very good here.

I think so, too. Nothing against Chang, though.

[Karl Henning]

I've not heard Chang, so I could not say, friend 

[snyprrr]

Ivashkin is very good here.

Yes, actually, with a contending No.2- right- forgot about Ivashkin (I picked Wallfisch over him, but that recording is swampy and Wallfisch falls to Rosty's focused determination and sheer thwack!)

[xochitl]

just heard the rospropovich/rozhdestvensky mono recording that came with a mostly britten disc and am quite gasping for breath. have seldom encountered this level of intensity/depth/energy/flash of the moment.

i'm ready to disown all my previous recommendations. you only run into something this alive very few times along the path!

[snyprrr]

just heard the rospropovich/rozhdestvensky mono recording that came with a mostly britten disc and am quite gasping for breath. have seldom encountered this level of intensity/depth/energy/flash of the moment.

i'm ready to disown all my previous recommendations. you only run into something this alive very few times along the path!

wait... is that the one in 'The Russian Years' Box? I believe it is. (it's with Britten in the Box)

My whole point here was to try to get a modern version that lived up to the earlier ones. Obviously, the sound isn't so great, so--- well, I just need the orchestra there. The Rosty/Ozawa has an odd, veiled orchestra that only works when you really crank it up.

I still haven't heard Rosty/Sargeant (w/Myaskovsky), though the samples are promising.


Other than Ivashkin, I've tried most all of the modern competition and am utterly underwhelmed. I can't even get beyond the first note of most players (sorry- they at least need to follow Rosty here- they just sound soooo weak). I'm feeling a bit scorched by all the bad picks I've made- the Korean gal did nothing for me.

I just feel this music NEEDS modern sound- the orchestra music is so Hollywood- how can I possible "hear" it in some old guise? I can't.


I will have to get that Box back from the library... I don't remember it being soooo much better than the Ozawa- do you have both? If your pick IS the Best- well, aye- that's not good.

oh, I had forgotten about this and now you bring it up--- am I going to have to buyBuyBUY MORE?!?!?!?!


buyBuyBUY!!

[Sergeant Rock]

I'm feeling a bit scorched by all the bad picks I've made- the Korean gal did nothing for me.

If she did nothing for you, I doubt anyone else can either. Time to give up?

Sarge

[xochitl]

ive heard a few slavas but not the one with ozawa

and the cd it comes in is this one:

[snyprrr]

ive heard a few slavas but not the one with ozawa

and the cd it comes in is this one:

I'm pretty sure that's the one from the Box. yea

If she did nothing for you, I doubt anyone else can either. Time to give up?

Sarge

I'd give Ivashkin a shot,... if I reeeally felt like punishing myself I'd get the Sargeant. Karl likes Ivashkin and I can '("see")' it working- but, I "saw" the others working for me too. mm

Again, I'm just hung up on that first note. No one seems to have whatever Rosty has,... or something.

Yea, I think Cello Concertos I can get kind of persnickety on--- this one in particular has rubbed me the wrong way from day one!! haha Maybe it sounds too much like 'Classic Rock' for me?

I have no problem with anyone's Myaskovsky, so what gives? I think it's because the Prokofiev is SO cello dominated- and so Rosty dominated too.

mm... eh

[snyprrr]

Ivashkin is very good here.

If she did nothing for you, I doubt anyone else can either. Time to give up?

Sarge

I got Ivashkin in the mail, and so it was time for the Final Prokofiev Roundup:

Rostropovich.Ozawa (Erato)
Chang (EMI)
Ivashkin (Chandos)
Mork (Virgin)
Wallfisch (Chandos)

I read over my previous comments, all bad.


So, I noticed that Ivashkin is slower than all, by a large margin. And, from the first notes, one hears a difference in the 1st. Gone is the quirkiness, and, Hello, Nobility! OK, so, on to the all important first note.

OK

OK, Ivashkin's a keeper in the first note. He's playing with the slowest tempi, but he keeps all the chops required. In context of the performance, e=verything comes together in the Hollywood manner I'd hoped for. My only slight criticism is I'd have liked the cello just one small hair up front more, though, the current positioning is as good as it gets and I'm not going to kvetch.

So, how is the competition this time around?

1) I just don't like the sound of the Rosty/Ozawa. I'm glad there is Ivashkin, though Ivashkin doesn't play "demonically".

2) Mork is still thin and wiry- ugh.

3) Wallfisch still didn't impress- trashcan-

4) WAIT! The EMI recording sounds great from the first note,- but I read how Chang didn't impress me- and this time she seemed a bit too demonic for me, but, the recording began winning me over, and by the 2nd she had me hooked and I realized I could give up the Rosty/Ozawa.




FINAL ANSWER:

So, the Chang is fast and furious, and the Ivashkin is noble and grand. Since we don't have the perfect marriage of these two, these two then have become my single pick I gave Chang a second chance, and was impressed. Ultimately I might pick her over Ivashkin, though, in context, Ivashkin sounds just as good (or, "sounds" better), he's just not playing in the demoinic style. It's a toss up, but I think you should have both for a grand comparison!

[Spineur]

I had the Rostropovich/Osawa CD and I just got this hires version Isserlis/Jarvi of these concertos - very nice also -