Search - Ofra Harnoy, Boccherini, Viotti :: Trilogy / Cello Concerti

To Lament Myslivecek

D. B. Rathbun | Washington, DC United States | 08/13/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is second rate. Unfortunately this is the only recording of the Myslivecek concerto (listed on Amazon as of this writing), and also the only recording of Viotti's concerto--the violin concerto being much more performed. Harnoy can really hit it at times, but on this recording she often sounds no better than a student, and certainly not the caliber of players like Krosnick, Sherry, or Finckel, let alone players that have staked their careers on soloing. In particular, her pulse is inconsistent and imprecise, and intonation is sometimes a problem. This is a shame, because one can clearly hear many good things in her performance--she is a decent musician, and in a couple of rare moments, she is even insightful and elegant.



The Boccherini may be the best performance on this disc. But certainly don't get this disc for the Boccherini: there are outstanding performances available by Ma, du Pre, Casals, Rostropovich, YoYoMa, and Maisky with Orpheus, the last my own recommendation. But if you like the Myslivecek, this is your only shot. Competent, but don't expect much more.



As for I Solisti Veneti, they're alright, but not tight, nuanced, or precise: for the most part they sound like this was the first runthrough."

Elite stuff?, no, but highly worthwhile none the less

Mark K. Reed | San Antonio, TX United States | 06/02/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I just wished to counterbalance the only other (two star) review of this CD. OK, no arguement, these probably aren't "five star" performances - but my point is, they are still thoroughly professional and entirely respectable. In fact, I'd say they're quite on-par with innumerable other classical-era recordings from groups such as Academy St Martins in the Fields / Mariner. Just straight forward, standard modern-instrument style. Of the three works my own favorite is that of Viotti. At the great value price this CD is now available I absolutely would recommend its addition to the library of any very serious collector of lesser known classical cello concerti, or for that matter, cellists in general."