I want to build a compelling cello music collection

Wow, another topic that I could easily contribute non-stop to for the rest of my life.  No way for me to give a complete answer here.  I have no idea where to begin with either because it will be just random thoughts for this moment.  I can attempt to state a couple of points but I know quite frankly that I am neglecting to mention hundreds of others so with this in mind let's see what happens.

Bart, you are a lucky guy for having the opportunity to play the cello at least at one point in your life.  Glad you are still intrigued by the instrument.  Why did you give up?  Any chance of dusting off an instrument and picking up from where you left off?

My first loves musically are typically anything that has a piano and / or a cello involved.  So my answers may reflect this.

I view cello music as in several categories. Solo, Chamber, Concerto.  There are others of course but this is my limits and what I seek.  The chamber portion is probably my most sought after music followed by Solo.  Both of these are the most intimate and so it goes without saying that the concerto selections (while still great) and not in my usual listening mix on a daily basis.

For solo, of course everyone has already nailed this one.  Bach Cello Suites - absolutely mandatory.  Every one above with great recommendations but I'll second the Gavriel Lipkind just above.  A very nice recording but you can't go wrong with any pick.  

For chamber, I'll only focus on cello with a piano in the mix meaning piano/cello, piano trio, piano quartet, piano quintet and so on.  Of course, I could recommend string duos, trios, quartets etc. at another time.  

The greatest chamber music for cello is really from the late 18th century to the 20th century.  Really anything by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Brahms, Debussy, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Prokofiev being my main players.  Way to many smaller names to mention.  Do a search on any of these combinations alone or include a composers name too and you will get a very long list.

With Cello and Piano probably the most important works will be the Sonatas.  Beethoven and Brahms are the starting points here.  Last year I worked on a Brahms cello sonata and currently am working on Beethoven's Sonata for Piano and Cello in A+.  I love this sonata and rank it now number one as far as the most fun and enjoyable piece I have or am learning.

So for today, focusing only on piano & cello sonatas I would say seek out complete Beethoven, then Brahms, followed by Franck, Rachmaninov, Chopin, Debussy, Prokofiev and then Shostakovich.  If you like the first four composers then you will naturally follow with the others listed.  And if you find all of this to your liking then I would say you are set for more then.

For me the cello is the closest instrument that emulates the cries of a human voice.  Two of the best examples of this are the sonatas from Franck and Rachmaninov.  Note the Franck is typically played with Piano and Violin but the version for Piano and Cello is really the one where it is all at for me.

I recommend this recording, "A Century of Russian Colours" as of course it has the Rachmaninov on it but what was really special for me was that it introduced me to Lera Auerbach.  Maybe this would push your boundaries a little but if your daring try it and see what you think?   The range on this album is really nice - from beauty to ugliness.  In the Auerbach you will hear sound that you may not have expected a cello to produce. 

Florestan, THANK YOU!  Thanks to all who replied in this thread :-)

I played cello up until my family moved to a new city just as I was starting high school at age 14.  The new school did not have an orchestra or any string program; only a concert band and a marching band.  So while I took private cello lessons for another 18 months, I taught myself the double bass to play in the concert band.  The marching band had only 3 tuba players and they asked if I'd just march with it and carry it around.  That seemed silly, so I learned to play tuba, too.  I had so much fun with marching and concert bands that I gave up the cello lessons to focus on the tuba, ultimately for both concert and marching bands.

Then in university I picked up the guitar, as well as playing tuba there for 4 years in concert, jazz and marching bands.  I could foresee going back to the cello at some point, but it's an investment of time . . . and honestly I enjoy ensemble playing a lot.  I am more likely to buy a tuba and play in community concert band.  There are opportunities for that; it's just a matter of making time.

I still love listening to the cello, and remember vividly my cello teacher recommending a recording of Jacqueline Du Pre playing the Boccherini concerto.  It is still a favorite for that reason.  I never got good enough to play it however! 

Hi Bart,

this one is most likely stylistically different from the other recommendations. The argentinean bandoneon player Dino Saluzzi and cellist Anja Lechner play music which is sometimes beautiful, sometimes haunting and sometimes both.