Album Review: Prokofiev and Shostakovich Cello Concerti

Sergei Prokofiev, Symphonie Concertante pour Violoncelle, Op. 125
Dmitri Shostakovich, Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 107
Mstislav Rostropovich, Cello
Seiji Ozawa, London Symphony Orchestra, 1988, Erato

The most thrilling concert I ever attended featured Mstislav Rostropovich leading the National Symphony Orchestra in an all-Tchaikovsky program. André Watts was the soloist for the Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto. This would have been the spring season of 1982 at Carnegie Hall. It's a little sad that I haven't been to anything quite as outstanding since, but I have done far less concert-going in recent years.

Rostropovich was a great conductor, but first and foremost he was a cellist. He is responsible for commissioning a significant portion of the 20th century's cello repertory, and this is likely to be his most lasting legacy.

Two fine Russian works for cello and orchestra are featured on this 1988 recording. Both works are dedicated to Rostropovich, who plays them outstandingly here with the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Seiji Ozawa.

Sergei Prokofiev's Symphonie Concertante, Op. 125, dates from 1950. It is probably the lesser known work here. It is introspective at times with fine solo passages.

Dmitri Shostakovich's First Cello Concerto, Op. 107 from 1959 has long been a favorite of mine since I first owned the 1984 Yo-Yo Ma recording of the piece on cassette. The Concerto dates from 1959 and is captivating and compelling from the initial exposition of the theme in the first bars.

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Album Review: Gilbert & Sullivan's "Patience" (1951)

Gilbert & Sullivan: "Patience," 

Isidore Godfrey, conductor, D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus and Orchestra, 1951
Naxos

This 1951 recording of "Patience" presents D'Oyly Carte's old guard in their final recording. Better to seek out the later 1961 D'Oyly Carte version, which is a far more compelling choice and includes dialogue.

Note: The four most recent posts here also feature my reviews of various recordings of Arthur Sullivan's music. Yesterday's post discusses the Ohio Light Opera's 1999 recording of "Princess Ida."

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Album Review: Gilbert & Sullivan: "Princess Ida" (Sargent, 1965); "Pineapple Poll"

Gilbert & Sullivan:  "Princess Ida;" "Pineapple Poll"

Sir Malcolm Sargent, D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Decca, 1965

This mediocre recording from 1965 turned out to be the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company's final attempt at "Princess Ida," and their only version recorded in stereo. It was a missed opportunity. True, their earlier 1955 recording is marred by an atrocious Ida warbled by Victoria Sladen, but otherwise it is quite superior all around. I cannot at all recommend this 1965 version over it, and Elizabeth Harwood, the actress singing Ida here, isn't right for the role anyway although she's a mile ahead of Sladen. In short, among the many inadequate versions of Princess Ida on disc, this is certainly not the one to own. Sir Malcolm Sargent conducts the lackluster affair.

Also included is "Pineapple Poll," delightful ballet music written and conducted by Charles Mackerras, based on the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. It's always a pleasure to listen to this confection and to identify where the different themes come from.

Note: The two most recent blog posts (and two newer ones as well) also feature my reviews of various recordings of Arthur Sullivan's music. Yesterday's post discusses Richard Hickox's 2005 recording of "Cox and Box" and "Trial by Jury" featuring the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

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Album Review: "Victor/Victoria" (1982 Film Soundtrack)

"Victor/Victoria" (1982 Film Soundtrack)

Henry Mancini

Henry Mancini is best known to me as the composer of "Moon River" and "The Pink Panther" theme, both written for memorable movies by Blake Edwards. "Victor/Victoria" is Edwards's 1982 film highlighting the talents of his wife Julie Andrews as well as Robert Preston and James Garner . Mancini contributed the score, with musical numbers set in the gay nightclubs of Paris. The lyrics are by Leslie Bricusse.

None of the numbers have become as well known as "Moon River," but I think "Le Jazz Hot" is an excellent showpiece for Andrews and I've never tired of hearing it. "You and Me" is also quite good, helped along by the extraordinary vocal talents of Andrews and Preston. Now Preston is gone and Andrews no longer sings. No one has really taken their place.

"Chicago, Illinois," Leslie Ann Warren's song, doesn't do much for me, and I think it compares unfavorably with the Hot Box Girls songs from "Guys & Dolls," which it weakly resembles. The CD by itself, a few highlights aside, is not that much fun to listen to all the way through, but the score does work very well as part of the movie, and after all that's exactly what scores are supposed to do.

"Le Jazz Hot" from "Victor/Victoria"

Julie Andrews

"You And Me"
Julie Andrews and Robert Preston

 

"Chicago, Illinois"

Lesley Ann Warren

More Mancini:

"Moon River"
Audrey Hepburn
Breakfast at Tiffany's

The Pink Panther (1963)
Main Title

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Album Review: We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006) by Bruce Springsteen

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006)

Bruce Springsteen

So the Boss is a fan of Pete Seeger. Who knew? Pete Seeger has recorded scores of memorable folk songs and it must have been quite a task for Bruce Springsteen to make selections for this tribute album. Right off the bat, the album hits you with a rollicking rendition of "Old Dan Tucker" and--surprise!--Springsteen is totally in his element. Not only that, the musicians are just great. Many of Seeger's recordings seem spare to me, with just a guitar or a banjo to accompany Seeger's great voice. This album is beautifully produced with an absolutely splendid band.

Ultimately, though, Pete Seeger seems quite absent from this disc. Seeger has a sonorous voice and he clearly articulates every phrase. Springsteen's voice isn't as versatile or as clear. Often he sounds hoarse or nasal. Sometimes he has a bit of a drawl or twang. Sometimes the singing just seems forced ("John Henry"). But that band Springsteen assembled always sounds amazing!

Bruce Springsteen-- Old Dan Tucker

Bruce Springsteen & The Seeger Sessions Band -

Live @ LSO St. Lukes

John Henry, Oh Mary Don't You Weep, How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live?, Mrs. McGrath, My Oklahoma Home, Jacob's Ladder, We Shall Overcome, Pay Me My Money Down

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