Search - Franz Joseph Haydn, Neville Marriner, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields :: Haydn: Cello Concerti 1 & 2

Elegance and polish

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 04/17/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have owned and heard most of the great recordings of the Haydn cello concertos -- Rostropovich, DuPre, Mork, Isserlis -- and always return to the elegant polish of Heinrich Schiff. His musicmaking is characterized by dimension, balance, elegance and the highest level of Haydn polish. His is a lovely version never interrupted by the virtuosity of DuPre or overindulgence of Rostropovich. It is always Haydn's voice being heard through Schiff's wonderful instrument. Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin's In-The-Fields provide suitably elegant support and make this a memorable reading that wears its age well and bears repeated regular hearings without tiring the ear, heart or mind. It goes in and out of print occasionally, so buy it if it is available. You won't regret it."