TAS Super LP List! Special Merit: Classical
180g Virgin Vinyl High Quality Double LP Pressing!
Pure Analogue Audiophile Mastering!
Possessing a complete recording of Beethoven’s Cello Sonatas gives far moresatisfaction than merely having the set to fill the shelves. On the one hand itoffers one the opportunity to compare Beethoven’s art of composition at variousstages in his life. And on the other hand one can already recognize in the earlyOpus 5 how he breaks with the traditional sonata in which the solo instrumentmerely provides an accompaniment and treats the two instruments as equalpartners in the creation of the movements.
Richter and Rostropovich devote themselves to their task with verve andfreshness. The two early works are marked by the rich and full sound of thecello and an elegantly performed piano part, while the two Russian musiciansfoster a contemplative, introverted style in the A major Sonata. This respectfulapproach also lends itself well to the C major Sonata where the free,fantasia-like character with wide-ranging shading is shown off to advantage.Beethoven’s break with the traditional sonata-form layout is carried to extremesin the D major Sonata, where the cello ignores the powerful theme on the pianoin the first movement. The work’s brittleness is effectively revealed by the twomusicians in the transition from the sensitive Adagio to the austere, freelyworked final Fugato, while their resolute and analytical approach to the workand technical prowess on their instruments is highly rewarding.
Features:
180g Virgin Vinyl
High Quality Pressing
Pure Analogue Audiophile Mastering
Double LP
Gatefold sleeve
Musicians:
Mstislav Rostropovich, cello
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Selections:
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
1. Sonata for Cello & Piano No. 1 in F, Op. 5 No. 1
2. Sonata for Cello & Piano No. 2 in G minor, Op. 5 No.2
3. Sonata for Cello & Piano No. 3 in A, op. 69
4. Sonata for Cello & Piano No. 4 in C, op. 102 No. 1
5. Sonata for Cello & Piano No. 5 in D, op. 102 No. 2
