Debussy - Cello sonata - Rostropovich / Britten

Claude Debussy
Sonata for cello and piano
I. Prologue. Lent
II. Sérénade. Modérément animé
III. Final. Animé
Mstislav Rostropovich
Benjamin Britten
Studio recording, London, VII.1961

[@SimonMackUK77]

Still a superb nuanced performance after all these years and one of the greatest cello works. Thks for the upload

[@noshirm6285]

Heartrending. I love the Violin Sonata as well, but love this one just a bit more. ♥️

[@christianvennemann9008]

0:00 - I. Prologue: Lent, sostenuto e molto risoluto; 5:08 - II. Sérénade: Modérément animé; 8:34 - III. Animé, léger et nerveux.

[@rod9865]

What I find remarkable about this sonata is how utterly un-French it seems, and so unlike anything else by Debussy. The second movement is so modern, and so meditative. Rostropovich makes it very Slavic. I adore this performance. I am also reminded that Franck’s Violin sonata is similarly un-French, and sounds as if it was composed somewhere well East of the Urals.

[@71280Carmen]

It should nevertheless be a little more Hispanic than Slavic...

[@dpetrov32]

hi Rod, can you explain how precisely does Rostropovich make it very Slavic?

[@notaire2]

Präzise und zugleich lyrische Aufführung dieses kompakten Meisterwerks im angenehmen Tempo mit vielseitigem Ton des Cellos und klarem Ton des Klaviers. Die Miteinanderwirkung zwischen den beiden Virtuosen ist echt intim und perfekt synchronisiert. Danke fürs wertvolle Hochladen wie immer!

[@ianfraser4243]

Benjamin Britten was not a virtuoso pianist, but on the strenghth of this he easily could have been. What a pity there is only this one still photograpah of this extreaaordinary musical occasion.

[@vladiinsky]

He was an excellent pianist! Rostropovich said to him on one of many occasions when they played Shubert sonata: "please, can you play the intro not as beautifully, because I can't concentrate to start my part!" Rostropovich was also not so shabby pianist himself, so coming from him...

[@dionbaillargeon4899]

@@vladiinsky Exactly my thoughts ever since I first heard that incredible performance of the arpeggione sonata! Britten's playing is so sublime that the first thought that crossed my mind was: wow, how can you match that on the cello now? The fear of ruining the atmosphere Britten manages to create in just a few seconds with a sloppy first phrase must have been overwhelming. I'm glad to learn Rostropovich felt exactly that way...

[@simonerabelo9051]

🌻

[@stepanio_banderas9461]

Я один слышу здесь русскую музыку? 🤔

[@henryayanna9401]

No, your friend above said the same! Very deeply spiritual

[@maryevanthiatzambiras5593]

No, you're not the only one 😊