Search - Antonin Dvorak, Lorin Maazel, Berlin Philharmonic :: Dvorak: Cello Concerto, Dumky Trio

A stunning reissue

Rob Watkins | Augusta, Georgia United States | 12/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this CD is a selection from two previous albums feautring mr. ma--the recording of the dvorak cello concerto coupled with a cello concerto by herbert; and the recording of dvorak's final duo of piano trios, no.3 and no.4 "dumky" from 1987. the performances are outstanding. mr. ma brings to light all of the romantic fervor of the cello concerto, revealing why this piece has been a favorite among classical audiences practically since its debut. dvorak was a surprising master of melody, and the concerto is full of memorable--and hummable!--sections that you'll find yourself singing along with in this rendition. at the same, time there is the gorgeous adagio that is quite moving that will bring you to quiet listening. bravo! the "dumky" trio has become hard to find, so this issue is most welcome. mr. ma joins his long-time collaborator emmanuel ax and violinist young uck kim for a splendid rendition of one of the best trios composed since beethoven's meisterworks for trio. the interplay is nearly telepathic and the evocation of the mood and joy within this piece is wonderful. this is a highly recommended re-issue."

An elegant, almost dainty Concerto, plus an overly cautious

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 06/10/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Lorin Maazel is the prince of perversity when it comes to distorting musical intention, and his idea for the ever-popular Dvorak Cello concerto is to rinse away any hint of vigor, robustness, and folk energy. Instead, we get elegantly turned phrases, mostly softer than usual, certainly much less rhythmic. Yo-Yo Ma seems to agree. Perhaps because Rostropovich so famously barnstormed through this piece with Karajan, Ma delivers anti-Rostropovich, keeping his tone slim, almost dainty. Frankly, the whole thing drove me crazy--I kept waiting for someone in the Berlin Phil. to throw a cymbal crash in just to shake up the proceedings. There are those--including the Gramophone reviewer--who appreciate this aproach more than i ever could..



The "Dumky" Trio, so named after a Czech folk dance, is one of Dvorak's most famous chamber works. Most of the movements are slow, and a performance really needs to dig in to sustain the listener's attention. Kim-Ax-Ma too often do the opposite, refining phrases and underlining the delicacy of their tone. It's consistent with Ma's view of the concerto, but is this really Dvorak, innately an extroverted, sunny, robust composer? I don't think so, much as I admire the finesse shown by all three players."