Artist Portrait: Mstislav Rostropovich (2003)

Though it is not a greatest hits, a career highlights, or the only disc you'll ever need by the performer, Artist Portrait is well worth hearing for fans of Mstislav Rostropovich. First, it includes performances of works that the great Russian cellist otherwise never recorded -- Rheinberger's serene Abendlied, Marcello's haunting Adagio arranged for cello and organ by Bach, and Bach's own majestic Adagio from his Organ Toccata in C major arranged by Alexander Siloti. Second, it includes Rostropovich's final recordings of ... Read More

Though it is not a greatest hits, a career highlights, or the only disc you'll ever need by the performer, Artist Portrait is well worth hearing for fans of Mstislav Rostropovich. First, it includes performances of works that the great Russian cellist otherwise never recorded -- Rheinberger's serene Abendlied, Marcello's haunting Adagio arranged for cello and organ by Bach, and Bach's own majestic Adagio from his Organ Toccata in C major arranged by Alexander Siloti. Second, it includes Rostropovich's final recordings of pieces he was closely and uniquely associated with -- the spicy central Allegro guisto from Prokofiev's Symphony-Concerto for cello and orchestra and the spiky opening Allegretto from Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1. Third, it includes splendid performances of works Rostropovich recorded several times earlier in his career -- Tchaikovsky's piquant Variations on a Rococo Theme and the central Adagio ma non troppo from Dvorák's Cello Concerto. While those who love the late cellist... Read Less