Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39379 in Music
• Released on: 1999-01-11
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
First issued in 1965, few recordings have lasted so well and, in the case of Sea Pictures, carried on getting better. Du Pré's account of the concerto, made when she was barely 20, made her a star overnight and remains the work with which she's most often identified. Her forceful, highly emotional performance won't be to all tastes or occasions but it brings the work to life like few others. Not just the poignancy of the opening or the aching nostalgia of the "Adagio" but the quicksilver brilliance of the "Scherzo" and cumulative energy of the finale are really made to tell. Barbirolli gives marvellously understanding support here and in Sea Pictures. It also established its soloist--Janet Baker and remains the deepest and most perceptive recording this song-cycle is ever likely to have! Baker makes light of the sometimes gauche poetry and awkward word-setting, giving the music a sweep and nobility typical of Elgar at his best. --Richard Whitehouse

Customer Reviews

The definitive recording of Elgar's Cello Concerto
If you only buy one recording of Elgar's haunting Cello Concerto, du Pre's outstanding performance has to be it.

Words can't really do justice to her interpretation. Other perfomances are just simply inferior.

The Sea Pictures aren't my cup of tea. This disc is worth the price for du Pre's performance alone.

SIMPLY THE BEST
This has to be one of my favorite concertos of all. I was fortunate enough to see Julian Lloyd Webber play this at the Royal Albert, but alas it was not nearly so good as Du Pre's performance recorded hear. If you are going to buy this concerto this is definately the recording you want, full of passion, melancoly and pure joy. As for the Sea Pictures, im not a fan but that doesnt make the CD not worth the money.

Two classics for the price of one!
CELLO CONCERTO
As a student I was privilleged to see a perfomance of the Elgar given by Ms. Du Pre, and over the decades scince I have owned a copy of this wonderful account of the Cello Concerto. One could try and compare recordings, for instance I treasure performances by Pini, Casals and Tortelier, to name but three!! Ultimately I find I return again and again to this particular performance, masterfully accompanied by Sir John Barbirolli. This Concerto, written when it was, is the essence of Elgar.

SEA PICTURES

Wow! Janet Baker - I cannot think of any other performance of these pieces, that start to compare with these gems! A singers singer if ever there was one. In lesser hands these songs could and have on occasion sounded trite. But with Sir John at the helm and the gloriously full range of voice that Dame Janet so eloquently uses, we are again able to hear these pieces as they should be given. One last word.....DICTION!!!!What a truly great singer she was.