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Beethoven: The Complete Music for Cello & Piano

Imported ed.

LP, Import

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Sviatoslav Richter (Performer), Mstislav Rostropovich (Performer), Format: Audio CD
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 147 ratings
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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1 Sonata for cello & piano No. 1 in F major, Op. 5/1: Adagio sostenuto - Allegro
2 Sonata for cello & piano No. 1 in F major, Op. 5/1: Rondo, Allegro vivace
3 Sonata for cello & piano No. 2 in G minor, Op. 5/2: Adagio sostenuto ed espressivo
4 Sonata for cello & piano No. 2 in G minor, Op. 5/2: Rondo, Allegro
5 Sonata for cello & piano No. 3 in A major, Op. 69: Allegro ma non tanto
6 Sonata for cello & piano No. 3 in A major, Op. 69: Scherzo, Allegro molto
7 Sonata for cello & piano No. 3 in A major, Op. 69: Adagio cantabile - Allegro vivace

Disc: 2

1 Sonata for cello & piano No. 4 in C major, Op. 102/1: Andante - Allegro vivace
2 Sonata for cello & piano No. 4 in C major, Op. 102/1: Adagio - Allegro vivace
3 Sonata for cello & piano No. 5 in D major, Op. 102/2: Allegro con brio
4 Sonata for cello & piano No. 5 in D major, Op. 102/2: Adagio con molto sentimento d'affetto
5 Sonata for cello & piano No. 5 in D major, Op. 102/2: Allego - Allegro fugato
6 Variations for cello & piano in F major on Mozart's 'Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen,' Op. 66
7 Variations for cello & piano in E flat major on Mozart's 'Bei Männern,' WoO 46
8 Variations for cello & piano in G major on Handel's 'See, the Conqu'ring Hero comes,' WoO 45

Editorial Reviews

Product description

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: BEETHOVEN,L.V.
Title: MUSIC FOR CELLO & PIANO
Street Release Date: 10/11/1994
Domestic
Genre: CLASSICAL COMPOSERS

Amazon.com

Beethoven was the first great composer of cello sonatas, and he remained really the only one until Brahms wrote two at the end of the last century, and then in our own time Martinu wrote three. Aside from a few individual works by other composers (Grieg, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Barber, and Britten), that about sums up the entire repertoire for this particular combination. It's a difficult medium, because the low notes of the cello tend to get covered by the bass of the piano, and balance between the two instruments is always precarious. Of course, when you have artists of the caliber of Rostropovich and Richter, there's nothing to worry about. This classic set has been the reference edition since the day it was issued, and it's now available at a budget price. --David Hurwitz

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.63 x 4.96 x 0.39 inches; 4.09 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Philips
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 28944256529
  • Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 1994
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ October 21, 2006
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Philips
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0000041A9
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 147 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
147 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Dick Buckley
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Pair of Musicians, and Absolutely Great Compositions!
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2015
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There is very little to say about these recordings that hasn't already been said. All I can do is add my kudos to those who have preceded me. I will do just that. I will comment, however, on one or two of the less than five star reviews.

One gentleman quotes his wife who compares Rostropovich to her amateur brother in a negative way. I suspect that neither he nor his wife have listened to enough cellists to make an intelligent review of music like this. Mstislav made many notable recordings in his day, and, as far as I'm concerned, he is among the top two or three finest cellists in recording history. For my money, he is second only to Jacqueline du Pre, and he goes a long way towards that rating with this disc. He made it toward the end of his career, but he hadn't lost a thing. I suspect that neither he nor his wife have listened to enough cellists to make an intelligent review of music like this.

I can only try to confirm what many other reviewers have noted. Rostropovich is joined on this recording by Svjatoslav Richter. He also ranks right up there with the greatest piano players ever - at least those who have lived during recording history. I am now pushing 80 years old, and I have been listening to classical music only for most of that time, so I have heard most of them. The combination of Rostropovich and Richter on this disc is nothing less than sensational. Each brings out the best of the other. It is as though Beethoven wrote these sonatas with This pair in mind.

As far as a few other reviews are concerned, the authors of just a few note that there is a hissing noise in the background of some of the cuts. Why would you not expect a little background noise on discs that were recorded more than 70 years ago? The fact is that, although I don't have a state of the art speaker system, it is pretty good, and I had to strain very hard to hear any unwanted noise on either of these discs. I suspect that you have to be very picky, indeed, to find fault with these recordings, especially at this two-for-one offering!

Don't hesitate! Buy this set while it is still available at a bargain price! You will never regret it.
9 people found this helpful
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Gwac
5.0 out of 5 stars A standout among many excellent recordings of Beethoven's works for cello and piano
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2012
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The five sonatas for cello and piano may not be the most ambitious or profound works that Beethoven wrote, but they bear the unmistakable stamp of his imagination and are very enjoyable.

Rostropovich's playing is beautiful and expressive as usual, but I think what makes this set particularly special is Richter's presence - they are a great match, both putting their virtuosity in service of the music's inherent expressiveness. The rondos of the Op. 5 works both sparkle like no other performance I've heard.

The sound overall is good. Generally I have found the sound of analogue-era cello recordings to be less enjoyable than more recent digital recordings, but here there is just enough room ambiance to complement Rostropovich's big sonority. Throughout the recordings there is a thin layer of noise that is mostly harmless; the lone exception is in the adagio of the final sonata where some crackling in the left channel spoils things a bit.

These works are pretty well served on disc, and many of the sets can be found very cheap. Other sets that I particularly enjoy are Heinrich Schiff with Till Fellner and Miklos Perenyi with Andras Schiff. I think this performance is as good as or better than either of them; really it's a question of whether you need the clean digital sound.

Of course it's important to note that the variation sets are not performed by Rostropovich and Richter, but rather by Maurice Gendron and Jean Francaix.
7 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars great performance
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2021
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Inspiring performance
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J K Weston
5.0 out of 5 stars Another treasure from Mercury Living Presence!
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2014
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Coming to Beethoven's 3rd Cello Sonata after listening to the first two on CD #1 is a somewhat startling change. In the first two Sonatas, the piano and cello are well-enough recorded, probably fairly closely miked. But when the third sonata starts, all of a sudden the sound opens up and breathes. You can hear that the cello and piano are being played in a real space with a modest amount of natural reverberation which enriches and enhances the sound of the instruments. The other recordings sound closed in and unnatural in comparison, though in isolation they are OK.

The third sonata was recorded by the Mercury Living Presence recording team around the time it also recorded Richter in the two Liszt piano concertos and also made several other recordings for Philips, which had recently bought Mercury Records. The other four cello sonatas were recorded one and two years later in other venues by Philips recording teams who either just didn't have the magic touch of Bob Fine and his team or, perhaps, had different goals in recording. All of the sonatas are fine performances but the natural open sound of the third sonata really stands out. This is a must have for any fans of Mercury Living Presence. And if the other 4 sonatas aren't as well recorded, they are still wonderful performances.
14 people found this helpful
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Garry Feeney
5.0 out of 5 stars Just in case others fail to convince you
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2013
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This has been around for many decades and superseded by wunderkind in each new generation. Well, the musicianship, musicality and intellectual sinew you will discover here is in a class of its own. At the time this was recorded there was a very special connection between this husband and wife duo and it shines through. I am, like some others, sometimes unsure if Brahms is great or just bombastically overblown. Here I am convinced he was great. It's their job to persuade you to that opinion and they do. If you love this music you probably own it. If you want to dip your toe in the water then start here. Be aware that Brahms can take several listening to fully bloom in your consciousness.
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harbormaster
5.0 out of 5 stars Stellar
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2019
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Updating my music library and needed to add this recording.
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Dr. Glen Hepker
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2017
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I am completely happy with my purchase - I so quite readily appreciate the seller and the product.
One person found this helpful
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Santa Barbara director
4.0 out of 5 stars Performances are excellent.
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2015
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For me, the star here is the final movement of Opus 69 which is equal in zest and power to almost anything Beethoven wrote and worth the price of the disc. Next in my appreciation are specific sections of the variations on Mozart opera themes. The rest I find moderately pleasurable.Performances are excellent.
4 people found this helpful
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martin
5.0 out of 5 stars Pas assez connu
Reviewed in France on August 12, 2019
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Je tiens à signaler que je partage tout à fait les avis élogieux des autres acheteurs de ce double cd magnifique. Pas la peine d'en dire plus ! Si les noms de Beethoven, Rostropovitch et Richter ne suffisent pas à convaincre, c'est sans espoir...
3 people found this helpful
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Eisprinzessin
5.0 out of 5 stars Richter und Rostropowitsch - einfach herrlich!
Reviewed in Germany on April 7, 2016
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Diese CD ist eine der schönsten Aufnahmen dieser Art, die ich kenne! Man kann sie bei jeder Gelegenheit und nicht oft genug hören! Musik in Vollendung!
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aprosdoketon
5.0 out of 5 stars Richter, Rostropovic e il Nuovo Testamento del violoncello
Reviewed in Italy on April 4, 2014
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Le cinque sonate per violoncello di Beethoven – il Nuovo Testamento del violoncello, per parafrasare la nota formula di Bülow – sono abbastanza equamente ripartite nei punti nodali della carriera del compositore: le due op. 5 agli inizi del soggiorno viennese, l’op. 69 nella fase “autunnale” del periodo eroico, le due op. 102 alle soglie del terzo stile. Tutte e cinque, in vario modo, presentano aspetti strutturali atipici e sperimentali. Le prime due incarnano un modello di struttura bipartita su larga scala, con un amplissimo allegro di sonata direttamente seguito da un rondò anch’esso di vaste proporzioni, senza il tempo lento centrale. Ciò comporta l’esigenza di differenziare nettamente i due allegri sia sul piano ritmico che nella caratterizzazione: nella sonata in fa maggiore il primo movimento è in tempo pari e il rondò in 6/8, in quella in sol minore viceversa; i primi tempi hanno un’intonazione epico-drammatica e i rondò una giocosa, mentre l’assenza dell’adagio viene compensata da un’introduzione lenta di grande impegno espressivo (lo schema è lo stesso che anni dopo sarebbe stato ripreso in forma miniaturizzata nella sonata per pianoforte op. 78). La sonata in la maggiore op. 69, capolavoro assoluto a mezza via tra i quartetti Rasumovski e i trii op. 70, presenta in prima e ultima posizione altri due allegri in forma sonata di amplissimo respiro, inframmezzati da un impegnativo scherzo con doppio trio; anche qui il tempo lento è ridotto ai minimi termini, in funzione di introduzione al finale, anche se vanta una delle più suadenti melodie mai concepite da Beeethoven. L’operazione riduttiva è del resto giustificata dal fatto che la componente lirica sia qui già concentrata nei tempi mossi, tutti riconducibili al genere “allegro cantabile” (singendes Allegro”). Le due sonate op. 102, che aprono la strada alla terza maniera, presentano entrambe un primo tempo in forma sonata denso, conciso e impetuoso e un finale contrappuntistico (che nella prima sonata si presenta quasi come un cartone preparatorio dell’ouverture op. 124). Notevolmente differenziati sono però gli schemi strutturali: nella sonata in do maggiore il tempo lento è ancora una volta confinato al rango di introduzione (ad entrambi i movimenti, e con ripresa ciclica della stessa melodia); in quella in re maggiore abbiamo invece un adagio centrale di ampio respiro, sottotitolato “con grande sentimento di affetto”.
Realizzata tra il 1961 e il 1963, l’incisione di Richter e Rostropovic (di cui esiste anche una variante dal vivo, ripresa a Edimburgo il 31 agosto del 1964) rispecchia uno dei più brillanti momenti di forma e di affiatamento dei due grandissimi interpreti, che sembrano letteralmente galvanizzarsi a vicenda, coniugando impeto, brillantezza di suono e suprema nitidezza di linee: sicuramente uno dei vertici assoluti nella copiosa e prestigiosa discografia di queste pagine (l’unica versione di livello paragonabile è forse quella di Casals e Serkin, che incarna una concezione profondamente diversa, più “olimpica” e meditativa).
L’album comprende anche le giovanili serie di variazioni su due temi del Flauto Magico e sulla marcia da Giuda Maccabeo, eseguite però non dai due grandi sovietici, ma da Maurice Gendron e Jean Françaix.
5 people found this helpful
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P. A. Clements
5.0 out of 5 stars Music for cello
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2012
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The cello hasn't been a major solo instrument, and the repertoire is not as large as for the violin, for instance. I only took note of cello music after having watched the Yo Yo Ma program in the '90s about his interpretation of the Bach cello suites. Also, for me, the cello has a rather mournful, sad tone to it, so it is certainly a matter of an acquired taste. Even in light or playful music, it still sounds as if it's not really joining the party.
But, having got past that I really appreciate the playing of the masters of this instrument, and my latest education is the playing of Rostropovich. It's difficult to say which I prefer, the music of Beethoven or the player of the cello; Rostropovich is that good. The sound reproduction of this 2CD compilation is not the best, but then it's not surprising when the recordings were made in '63 and '67. The sound just lacks the full-frontal presence of modern recordings, but at least it's clean sounding.
So, should you buy this version? Yes, unless you know of a definitive recording. It's excellent value for money and excellent music. As a bonus you can also hear the original theme used in Black Adder!
11 people found this helpful
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Meneghini Roberto
5.0 out of 5 stars Music for cello
Reviewed in Italy on January 16, 2023
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Molto bello
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