Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Mstislav Rostropovich, Sviatoslav Richter, Maurice Gendron, Jean Françaix
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Philips
Release: 1994
Size: 618 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
Cello Sonata No. 1 in F Major, Op. 5 No. 1
01. I. Adagio sostenuto – Allegro
02. II. Rondo. Allegro vivace
Cello Sonata No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 5 No. 2
03. I. Adagio sostenuto ed espressivo – Allegro molto più tosto presto
04. II. Rondo. Allegro
Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69
05. I. Allegro ma non tanto
06. II. Scherzo. Allegro molto
07. III. Adagio cantabile – Allegro vivace
CD 02
Cello Sonata No. 4 in C Major, Op. 102 No. 1
01. I. Andante – Allegro vivace
02. II. Adagio – Tempo d’andante – Allegro vivace
Cello Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102 No. 2
03. I. Allegro con brio
04. II. Adagio con molto sentimento d’affetto
05. III. Allegro. Allegro fugato
6. 12 Variations on “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen” for Cello and Piano, Op. 66
7. 7 Variations on “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen”, for Cello and Piano, WoO 46
8. 12 Variations on “See the conquering hero comes” for Cello and Piano, WoO 45
This set of recordings made in 1963 by cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and pianist Sviatoslav Richter of Beethoven’s cello sonatas are the most virtuosic, the most lyrical, the most dramatic, the most expressive, the most intense, the most ecstatic, and, in a word, the greatest ever recorded. From the Empfindung style of the Op. 5 sonatas through the “Eroica” style of the Op. 69 sonata to the Elysium style of the Op. 102 sonatas, Beethoven’s five cello sonatas are a précis of the highlights of his career as a composer. And from their extraordinary virtuosity, through their singing tone and their muscular rhythms to their translucent ensemble, Rostropovich and Richter’s performances are the scores aurally realized and transformed through their consummate musicianship. Of course, you should hear the Casals/Serkin for its soulful depths, the Fournier/Kempff for its noble lyricism, and the Maisky/Argerich for its passionate virtuosity. But at the end of the day, it’s the Rostropovich/Richter that you’ll want to go home with. Like Schnabel’s piano sonatas and Kreisler and Rupp’s violin sonatas, Rostropovich and Richter’s cello sonatas are the ones you’ll want to grow old with. This is as good as it gets in this world.