Search - Grego Piatigorsky, Max Bruch, Antonin Dvorak :: Gregor Piatigorsky: Great Cello Concertos

Treasurable

David Saemann | 06/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you only know Gregor Piatigorsky from his stereo recordings, you never have experienced him in his prime. On 78 rpm recordings, there is a wonderful Schumann Concerto with John Barbirolli, and there are the recordings on this CD. The Dvorak Concerto is superior to his later recording with Charles Munch. Piatigorsky's playing is beautifully lyrical, sometimes reminding me of Yo Yo Ma but with less exuberance. Instead, we have here a very wistful reading that truly captures the many shades of Dvorak's personality. The balance between cello and orchestra is better than on the later recording with Munch, and Ormandy's contribution is truly memorable--his orchestra is outstanding. The sound is good for 1946, with little surface noise from the 78s. The recording venue, the Academy of Music, is less resonant than Columbia's contemporary recordings in Pittsburgh or Minneapolis, but the overall sound quality is pleasing nevertheless. Bruch's Kol Nidrei, from a year later, is the best version I've ever heard of the piece, even better than Janos Starker's with Antal Dorati. This is full blooded Romantic playing by the soloist and orchestra. As for the Saint-Saens Concerto, it was recorded in 1940 and offers slightly more noise from the records, although the basic sound engineering is very pleasant. This is Piatigorsky at his technical peak, with beautiful tone and secure, rapid passagework. It also is a rare opportunity to hear the legendary Frederick Stock conduct his Chicago Symphony. To put it simply, this is one of the best cello CDs ever issued."