Search - Edouard Lalo, Michael Halasz, Budapest Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia :: Lalo: Cello Concerto; Sonata; Chants russes

Very decent preformance, hard to find repitoire

E. Welker | Maryland, USA | 03/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of five major recordings that I know of. The other renditions feature Yo-Yo Ma, Leonard Rose, Andres Navarra, and Pierre Fournier. For my tastes, Ma takes too many liberties with the timing and tempos of the piece. The Navarra disc is very romantic, despite a fine performance (this disc is also MONO). The best two discs are the Fournier and Rose versions, Fournier plays with a more subtile interpretation, however fundamentally, his interpretation is flawless. Rose on the other hand is not as close to the score as Fournier, but he offers a valid case for his interpretation, including an awesome (and faster than usual) performance of the end of the first movement. Where does this disc stand? Maria Kliegel can not match the technicality of Rose, Ma, or Fournier, however, she does do a very good job. She doesn't miss any notes, however she sounds slightly muddy during the notey-fast parts. She doesn't take the same freedoms that Ma does, she follows the set rhythms and tempi more closely. Overall her tempo is slower than many of the other major recordings (especially at the end of the first which Rose takes faster than usual).Unlike most cases where the Naxos version is substantially less than others, I know the Fournier (released on DG's Originals), and the Rose (Sony's Essential Classics) are both mid-lines, and won't cost too much. The difference, however, is that the Naxos also contains Lalo's Cello Sonata, which is very difficult to find on disc. It is a lovely, three movement lyrical piece which has curiously fallen completely out of the standard cello repitoire (upon hearing it, one definatly wonders why). Kliegel does transpose a few passages up an octave here and there, however she otherwise remains faithful to the score. The disc ends with the Chants Russes, transposed for cello.I believe that if you are looking for the definative recording of the concerto, look towards the Rose or Fournier versions. However, if you know the concerto, and are intrigued as to what the sonata is, this disc is for you."

Do Get This Disc for the Sonata

E. Welker | 05/14/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Since the reviewer from Maryland, whose review appears on this page, seems much more knowledgeable about both the scores and rival performances of these works, I'd just like to make a brief addendum to his remarks. First, Kliegel's performance of the concerto is certainly more than adequate, though compared to the LP recording of this work I owned, a performance by Janos Starker on Mercury, her reading seems a bit lacking in drama and color. Part of the problem lies with the recorded sound, which though adequate, is kind of opaque and flattish. The important brass parts, especially the horns, don't at all register with lifelike timbre.That said, there is nothing wrong with the recording of the discmates of the concerto, and I am very happy to have added the sonata to my collection. It's an interesting and substantial piece by an underrated composer, while the performance seems to capture the essence of the work to a T.In conclusion, a passable concerto, but if you're a Lalo enthusiast (and I guess there aren't many out there!), you'll want this CD for the sonata."