Lovely lyrical playing. Fine tone. Expressive. Well supported. A pleasure to hear this, thank you.
@vintagesounds3878
Ай бұрын
@@The-Organised-Pianist Yes, rather good I think!
@jpknijff
Ай бұрын
Wow, it's just marvelous, such elegance, such lightness, the sheer beauty of sound, but also so stylistically appropriate. I can't think of any cellist today who comes close to this. Thank you!
@vintagesounds3878
Ай бұрын
@@jpknijffThank you! It's certainly a compelling performance.
@georgejohnson1498
Ай бұрын
I have been very fond of this concerto for a good fifty years. I have only one record of it these days, found after many years of hunting for something as genial and un-virtuosic as the music itself. That being the 1956 HMV [Denmark] performance with Erling Blondal Bengtsson with the Danish State Radio Orchestra conducted by Mogens Woldike. It is a surprise as it is actually slightly slower in the first movement Allegro moderato than Cassado and Schmidt-Isserestedt. Otherwise tempi are a muchness, but the real difference is the urtext used in Denmark. There are many instances in the German recording which show an editors hand thickening the texture, adding much woodwind in accompaniment of the soloist in what are originally quite bare passages for the solo cello. This is important, because it reduces the possibility of flexibility from the soloist. On the other hand what the German record does achieve is so well done. The timing of the first movement is actually just over two minutes longer in Copenhagen, but this is partially made up of a superb cadenza, so the overall tempo is only slightly slower, but it is a crucial difference. The only other historic record that I used to be familiar with was Emmanuel Feuerman on EMI recorded in London before 1939. This was more good than great as the orchestra really was not as fine as one might hope for. I had to listen several times before crystallising my view of this German performance. Of course it is superb, and I love it, but it does not displace Bengtsson for me, which I also listened to again before writing this. Now I do realise that most people will not have have heard of my favourite recording, and that is fine. EMI hardly pushed it outside Denmark! Others I have known and admired include Fournier, du Pres and Rostropovich, but this is preferable to these relatively modern recordings. I could never get on with Trul More [also on EMI] which is a modern digital recording. HC Robbins Landon was not an enthusiast for this concerto, though as the leading light in Haydn analysis and urtext editions over the last seventy years he was clearly a Haydn enthusiast. I don't share his his esteemed and influential view of this concerto. I love this music music for exactly the reasons he does not. Principally its gentle nature, which the Danes catch to perfection and Cassado does also, if to a slightly lesser degree. Sorry for such a long reply. I cannot easily react fast or concisely when I am almost in two minds about music making in music that I revere. I would agree that this music is rather elusive for modern virtuosos. Best wishes from George
@The-Organised-Pianist
Ай бұрын
@@georgejohnson1498 Thank you for this very interesting comment. I used to enjoy listening to Steven Isserlis in these concerti (& am sure I still would).
@vintagesounds3878
Ай бұрын
@@georgejohnson1498 Thanks George. It's always good to have your comments. Glad you considered this worthwhile, albeit not your favourite.
@georgejohnson1498
Ай бұрын
@@The-Organised-Pianist The music of Haydn is quite the most amazing phenomenon His variety, his invention, his expressiveness, can only be found elsewhere in JS Bach. Bach spent more time being [sincerely] deathly serious, though Haydn occasionally digs just as deep. Where Haydn wins is the copious amount of genial music he composed. Boring for the virtuoso fans, because the quality resides in pure musicianship rather than spectacle. Spectacle has it place, and both Haydn and Bach manage this on many occasions, but always firmly fenced in with the stylistic confines of the time! Of the great spectacularists, Handel scores top marks before Tchaikowsky! Best wishes from George
@georgejohnson1498
Ай бұрын
@@vintagesounds3878 Dear VS, What always surprises me is how, proportionally, many really fine old recordings there are of Haydn, and I suspect that this comes from the fact that he was even more ignored than Mozart in the Anglophone world up to 1914. Most musicians did know the music, and those that did were enthusiasts for it. It was not a necessary addition to the repertoire for most; so that Harty, Beecham, and many others could bring out deeply considered and sympathetic performances as there was no competition for those who did not have the music in their bloodstream. An interesting case of less competition bringing a higher success rate! Best wishes from George
@The-Organised-Pianist
Ай бұрын
@@georgejohnson1498 Dear George, thank you for telling us all more about your high regard for Haydn's music - a subject on which you're always especially interesting. Your comments are invariably a super verbal counterpoint to Haydn's music's kindness! This excellence of Haydn is probably something I need to be told about more, as I don't think I explore his music sufficiently. I like his music's good-natured sincerity. I think I hear him taking delight in sheer musicality on its own terms. He doesn't seem to feel obliged to bring in philosophy as often as some of his fellow great composers, but perhaps I make that statement too hastily as it's probably a philosophy of geniality, which is not to be overlooked for its gentleness. His music is so well-crafted. Among his works, The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross (in any of its forms) is the one that captivates me. There, we have profound depth & unshrinking commitment to express a range of aspects that make stringent & rewarding demands on the listener. I would not hesitate to rank it on the highest level. These days, we could do with more of Haydn's genuineness about. Music without guile that is real music. Thank you as ever. 😊
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