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Music and Transfiguration

Dvorak, Rostropovich, Karajan and the Berlin Phil

Today, I was listening to Rostropovich's recording of the Dvorak Cello Concerto with Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. Even though I've listened to this recording countless, just to re-read that first sentence leaves me awe struck. Antonin Dvorak, Mstislav Rostropovich, Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic all mentioned in one sentence and together in one recording. The recording was made during the turbulent 1960s in Cold War ravished Berlin. The political overtones of the collaboration did not go unnoticed. Rostropovich himself taught at the Moscow and Leningrad conservatories, and was friends with the great "Soviet" composers, Prokofiev and Shostakovich. However, Rostropovich, perhaps taking advantage of the leniency of the Soviet regime towards high standing artists, was not hesitant in voicing his opposition to Soviet Russia's political leaders. He ultimately left Soviet Russia in 1974. Yet, the fact that the performance did indeed take place in the most troubled city of the Cold War is profound.

If I had to compile a top ten list of the greatest of recordings every made, this one would definitely be at the top of the list. As always, the Berlin Philharmonic is the epitome of perfection and the meeting of two musical geniuses, Rostropovich and Karajan, is phenomenal. Not to mention that Dvorak wrote some pretty good music, too. If you haven't heard this recording, find it and listen to it. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

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It is a great recording!  Heard it first in the '70s on a LP.  Rostropovich's sound is nonpareil.  Not a big fan of Dvorak, though...

Submitted by coda15 on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 17:02. Report abuse