Rostropovich

In March 2017, Warner Classics marks the 10th anniversary of Mstislav Rostropovich’s death and 90 years since his birth with the deluxe collectors’ box set Cellist of the Century, comprising of selected remastered recordings.

In March 2017, Warner Classics marks the 10th anniversary of Mstislav Rostropovich’s death and 90 years since his birth with the deluxe collectors’ box set Cellist of the Century, comprising of selected remastered recordings.

In March 2017, Warner Classics marks the 10th anniversary of Mstislav Rostropovich’s death and 90 years since his birth with the deluxe collectors’ box set Cellist of the Century, comprising of selected remastered recordings.

In March 2017, Warner Classics marks the 10th anniversary of Mstislav Rostropovich’s death and 90 years since his birth with the deluxe collectors’ box set Cellist of the Century, comprising of selected remastered recordings.

In March 2017, Warner Classics marks the 10th anniversary of Mstislav Rostropovich’s death and 90 years since his birth with the deluxe collectors’ box set Cellist of the Century, comprising of selected remastered recordings.

Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante for cello and orchestra in E minor, Op. 125, makes the listener aware of the level of external and internal conflict under which the composer was laboring at the time of its composition in 1952, close to the end of his life. Prokofiev had suffered under the censure of the Soviet regime in the last decades of his life and worked hard to maintain his artistic integrity while avoiding offending the delicate aesthetic sensibilities of the authorities. The Sinfonia Concertante, his last major work, suffers for being a balancing act that didn't allow the composer to give expression to the full level of inventiveness that's held in check by his tenuous political situation.

Mstislav Rostropovich, known for his affinity for the music of Tchaikovsky, is at his peak conducting the music of his fellow countryman on this album. He leads the Berliner Philharmoniker in stirring performances of Tchaikovsky's ballet suites The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, all recorded in June 1978.

This is a beautiful combination of pianist and cellist. Two Russians who fit together like a hand in a glove. Both Richter and Rostropovich are extremely in synchronization with each other as they play the beautiful Beethoven Cello Sonatas. What classic pieces of music by Beethoven with two exceptional performers.

Although it was written at a time of great optimism in the Soviet Union with the Nazis in retreat, Shostakovich's Eighth Symphony is imbued with a deep sense of sorrow and fear of the future. Whereas the authorities expected a victorious anthem, Shostakovich appeared too affected by the bloody cost of the war. Mstislav Rostropovich again proved that no other conductor is able to so intimately understand the feelings of his dear friend.

Outstanding conductor Karajan coupled with remarkable soloists, David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, Sviatoslav Richter and the Berliner Philharmoniker deliver charismatic renditions of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. Another addition in EMI’s illustrious remastered series, the performances are warm, spacious and powerful, remastered by four exquisite engineers.