Top 10 Favorite Cello Sonatas

[DavidW]

Sonatas remain an unexplored mystery for me, as pianos seem to occupy a large element in so many. My ignorance, no doubt.

Please try Weinberg's sonatas for solo cello.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

A fine list, John! I would've definitely included Britten, Chopin, and Fauré sonatas had I extended my list to 25. The Carter is certainly one of my favorite works of his - being an earlier work it's certainly more approachable than his later stuff, but it's still thoroughly individual and cerebral (in a good way). The Enescu will take a few more listens for me to fully assimilate, but I can attest that it's a prime product of his mysterious, complex, and often elusive mature style.

Thanks, Kyle! Yeah, do give the Enescu some more listens --- it needs more time to marinate.

[Mandryka]

None of the above 🙂

Finnissy

Bolleter

[foxandpeng]

It's rainin' cello sonatas without a piano. Gubaidulina's Rejoice

Giving this a go, now.

[foxandpeng]

Finnissy

Bolleter

*looks at you with very, very narrow eyes*

[foxandpeng]

Please try Weinberg's sonatas for solo cello.

Listening to the Cello Sonata 1 for Solo Cello, now. Wojciech Fudala leading the charge.

[Iota]

Of the above I only know the Debussy, the Britten and the Ravel V & C duo, along with the, not mentioned, first two Beethoven cello sonatas, which I've heard and much enjoyed (I shall endeavour to get round to the other three before they slip my mind again ).
But much food for thought here, the Koechlin certainly seems a must, but others look to have potential too. Good thread.

Edit: I've heard the Rachmaninov and Chopin too, but can't remember much about either. And I see Beethoven's second cello sonata was in fact mentioned, though not the first.

[foxandpeng]

Please try Weinberg's sonatas for solo cello.

Moving on to the Complete Sonatas for Solo Cello with Northern Flowers and Marina Tarasova. This is better.

[Mandryka]

In theory cello and piano should work well together because of the tessituras are complementary. You hear it in the second movement of the Mendelssohn op 58 really clearly. Listen to the wonderful way the two instruments weave in and out of each other's music -- a real duo.

[Mandryka]

Here's another good French one, the Greif

[brewski]

None of the above 🙂

Just a quick note of support. We all have composers and genres that don't resonate, and you are perfectly entitled to cross a few off your personal list.

[Roasted Swan]

I mentioned this disc in a post that somehow never posted!



These are 3 fine works - tbh I'd forgotten how fine and very typically Baxian.  A good rediscovery.

[Kalevala]

Just a quick note of support. We all have composers and genres that don't resonate, and you are perfectly entitled to cross a few off your personal list.

@foxandpeng And sometimes they change too!  I've listened to things in the past which made me shudder or didn't click with me; and then, "Bingo!".

K

[steve ridgway]

@foxandpeng And sometimes they change too!  I've listened to things in the past which made me shudder or didn't click with me; and then, "Bingo!".

K

[Kalevala]

🤣

K

[Florestan]

The creator of that cartoon seems to believe that every Greek looks like Socrates. 

[DavidW]

The creator of that cartoon seems to believe that every Greek looks like Socrates. 

No it is a meme. The template is repurposed over and over. People just add their own text.

[Mandryka]

The creator of that cartoon seems to believe that every Greek looks like Socrates. 

Socrates looked like a fish (it comes up in the Meno.) Fat and fugly.