Janos Starker - Dvorak: Concerto for Cello & Orchestra in B Minor

The outstanding success of Speakers Corner's release of Bach’s Cello Suites performed by Janos Starker has encouraged them to follow this up with a no less important interpretation of Dvorak’s Cello Concerto by the Hungarian virtuoso. Starker tackles this concerto with amazing confidence; technical difficulties encountered by others in its performance appear unknown to him. Tonal purity, even in the dreaded upper register and the cadenzas, remains unscathed, so that one can concentrate wholly on the meditative magic of the music.

Janos Starker has found worthy fellow musicians in Antal Dorati and the London Symphony Orchestra. The conductor and soloist set a benchmark in how to work together as a team in concert in that it is less the often-lamented emulation than the interpretation, which stands in the foreground in this performance. Rather, the two protagonists commit themselves to a chamber-music-like reading, which is distinguished by the dynamically moderate intonation of the orchestra and the slender tone of the soloist throughout. An ever-welcome encore is found on side two with Bruch’s Kol Nidrei, performed with verve and a good portion of romantic, melting sweetness, which allows this evergreen to flourish.

"...Regardless of which performance you may love, nothing will come close to the sound Mercury has captured at Wembley with this recording. Originally a 35mm recording, Willem Makkee, utilizing Wilma Cozart Fine's 1960 two-track mix downs, has once again, delivered a recording we all should treasure, and in by far the best, readily available sound...Top Recommendation and a must own recording!" - Richard Foster, Hi-Fi+, Issue 40, www.hifiplus.com

Dvorak: Violoncello Concerto

Bruch: Kol Nidrei

Customer Reviews (4.75 Stars) 4 person(s) rated this product.

Stunning with some clicks and pops posted on 10/27/2022 4 Stars Reviewer: Brian VanPelt The surface noise is there, but it is sparse. However, what noise there is happens to be of the louder variety, meaning pops, although I would describe most pops to be of the light variety. Other than those, this record sounds as smooth and detailed as any I've ever heard. You will go stretches where the vinyl is dead silent - even at loud volumes. I'm going to run this through the ultrasonic machine and update this post if necessary. The mastering engineer has put Mr. Starker in the center and the detail and presence is amazing. It feels like the cello is almost right there in front of you. Seriously, you can feel the tension of the bow as it rubs across the strings. I'm not sure I've ever heard anything like it. The orchestra is tempered and Mr. Starker's cello is accentuated, creating a nice balance where you can here the cello even in the loudest passages. Take away those sparse clicks and pops and this record is out of it and you've got a perfect record.

A classic. posted on 02/17/2013 5 Stars Reviewer: Arturo Starker's performance of Dvorak's cello concerto is legendary and is difficult to surpass. It is deeply felt and the recording is first class.

Better Than Yo Yo Ma posted on 12/22/2005 5 Stars Reviewer: bboss@gv.net I like Yo Yo and Rostropovich, but the sense of committment and the acoustics make this a winner. I can't handle the Casals recording because the sound is too dated for me. I also like the really deep sounds coming from Starker's Cello. I am a cellist so I guess I am very opinionated. I might have to look for a du Pre to get a comparison.

Yo Yo Who? posted on 12/01/2005 5 Stars This is the most moving cello perfomance I have ever heard on record. And for me to enjoy hearing "Kol Nidre" at any time other than Yom Kippur is saying something. The Mercury Living Presence recording is amazing. Vinyl rocks!

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