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Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations.

I've recently become enamored with this piece.  My reference is Jovan Starker's 1964 performance with the LSO on the Mercury Living Presence label (Tidal MQA).  I prefer it to Rostropovich/Berlin Philharmonic on Deutche Grammophon (also Tidal MQA) primarily because of the orchestra.  I really enjoy the relaxed, luxurious, expansive yet pristine sound coupled with impeccable musicianship.  I'm fairly new to classical so I'm asking for some recommendations for similar music, although it does not have to be cello or even strings.  Any ideas are appreciated!
shoff
mahler123
3,028 posts
 
Btw, it’s Janos Starker...
The two recordings that you reference are the two standard recommendations and have been for about 40 years.  However, every significant Cellist with a recording contract has recorded it, given that the repertoire for Cello Concertos
is so limited.  I have to confess that I can’t recommend one off the top of my head because whenever I want to hear it I listen to Starker or Rostropovich.  I have heard a number of Cellists play it in Concert through the years and the one that impressed me the most was Daniel Muller-Schott.
  I would try the websites for Presto Music or ArkivMusik for listings of various performances , and then try to audition ones that sound promising to you on Tidal or YouTube.
mahler123
3,028 posts
 
Ok, I looked it up, and naturally the Cellist that I recommended didn’t record it.  I do see a version by French Cellist Gautier Capuçon, and I did hear him play it a few years ago in Chicago.  Another one that caught my attention was on the Naxos Label with Cellist Maria Klegel.  The rest of the album featured Bruch Kol Nidrei and other great Cello works that you might like
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
The Rocky Rococo Variations are excellent too.
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