Schumann & Saint-Saëns: Cello Concertos

LPA ROBERT SCHUMANN 1810–1856

1. Cello Concerto in A minor, op. 129 - I. Nicht zu schnell
2. Cello Concerto in A minor, op. 129 - II. Langsam – Etwas lebhafter – Schneller
3. Cello Concerto in A minor, op. 129 - III. Sehr lebhaft

SIDE B CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS 1835–1921

1. Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, op. 33 - Allegro non troppo
2. Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, op. 33 - Allegretto con moto
3. Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, op. 33 - Allegro non troppo

This LP comes from the 5xLP boxset that was released in November 2017 for the 30th anniversary of death of Jacqueline du Pré; it uses the 24-BIT/96kHz remastering made at Abbey Road in 2011 for Japanese SACD versions.

“It is good to be reminded of du Pré’s vivid, intense and joyful music-making”, wrote Gramophone of this pairing of cello concertos by Schumann and Saint-Saëns. “[The Schumann] has that kind of spontaneous freedom of line that made her account of the Elgar so famous. Her delicacy of response in the slow movement is matched by a romantic flair which carries the outer movements along so admirably. Barenboim directs a sympathetic accompaniment, following her subtle manipulation of rubato with complete understanding.”