Which Schumann cello concerto?

[Hornspieler]

A work I adore . I would strongly recommend the Du Pre/Barenboim - it is one of her best records. More recently Stephen Isserlis is superb.

The du Pre recording is very good and I certainly prefer it to her other recordings (yes, even the Elgar) but for no-nonsense, no gimmicks, no throwing the cello at the bow and tossing the head, I would always opt for Pierre Fournier who, unlike his contemporary, Paul Tortelier, sat quite still and moved only his left hand and his bow arm; allowing the music itself to focus one's complete attention.

HS

BTW I can't comment on Rostropovitch because I have not heard him playing this particular work, but my admiration for him is unbounded.

[salymap]

I have, and love, the recordings by du Pre and Paul Tortelier. I know they can be annoying to watch but I like their playing and on CD I don't care how much they throw the cello at the bow. It's the resulting sounds that count to me

[JohnSkelton]

The Coin / Orchestre des Champs Elysées / Herreweghe performance captures the intimacy of the piece very well, IMO.

[Bryn]

I have, and love, the recordings by du Pre and Paul Tortelier. I know they can be annoying to watch but I like their playing and on CD I don't care how much they throw the cello at the bow. It's the resulting sounds that count to me

Do seek out and listen to the Fournier, however. The economy of movement is, as in the drumming of Eddie Prevost, a significant contributory factor in the musicality of the performance. The French EMI 4 CD set, "Les Introuvables de Pierre Fournier" should grace any cello enthusiast's playback system. [For the sake of 'monophobes', perhaps I should mention that the Schumann concerto, recorded in 1956, is the only stereo recording in the 4 disc set.]

[Stanfordian]

Right now, I'm listening to lots of cello music - but I don't know/have Schumann's concerto; I would like to obtain one - but which one? There seem to many 'out there' which on paper, look as if they'd be great choices for the most part.... dilemmas, dilemmas! Any advice as always will be very gratefully received. Rostropovich/Leningrad PO/Rozhdestvensky is in my line of sight - also it's coupled with Argerich/Washington National Orchestra in the piano concerto.... worth a punt, anyone?

Thanks, Nick

Hello Nick,

The recording of the Schumann cello concerto that I admire best of all is played by Heinrich Schiff and the Berlin Philharmonic OrchestraSchiff under Bernard Haitink on Philips.