The premiere recording of Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major

Thanks for the link George, this was excellent. 

I checked my collection and do not have a copy of this Concerto. In fact, the only Hayden Concerto I own is a Yo-Yo Ma D Major. 

Flipping through my 2005/06 Penguin guide to CM, CD/DVD, appears Jacqueline du Pre's version with EMI in April '67 is the one to own on disc. Have you heard this version and do you know of a better one on CD?

Regards

Aric

Dear Aric,

You will not be disappointed with Jacquie’s recording. She was a great artist and Haydn does not suffer from a full-blooded approach!

Very best wishes from George

I’m not sure if this would meet with George’s approval, but I quite like Steven Isserlis in these concertos. This disc has excellent sound & is well filled with the Sinfonia Concertante.

Sorry, I meant no offence, I only mention you because it is your thread & I was not sure of your opinion of Steven Isserlis. 

Morton,

Funny, I just decided to pick up the very same CD (off Amazon) - for quality and price concerns over du Pre's recording. 

I also noticed the 24 bit and with my recently purchased CD5XS, seems like a good punt for very little dough. 

Aric

Dear Morton,

No offence taken!

Dear Aric,

I doubt you need to fear quality on a 1960s EMI recording. As for price, well what is any of this worth in Pounds Sterling?

Go for the Du Pre in my view, and also get the Isserlis. Will be a contrast, but no single performance gets all the facets of great music ...

ATB from George

Aric,

Yes, that looks a bargain, I hope you enjoy it.

I often buy used from Amazon, no problems so far.

Morton

Morton / George,

Unfortunately the du Pre is sold either used (which I have no experience buying from Amazon, although Morton seems to have good success) or new (with prices starting well over 100USD). 

So I got Isserlis for $7 - along with a few other CDs - with free shipping. Hard to pass on that Amazon Prime thing they have going.

I will be keeping an eye out for du Pre recordings on my next visit to a used cd shop!

Cheers,

Aric

Dear Aric,

As Warner now own the EMI archive, be patient. Jacqueline du Pre is far too significant an artist that a complete recorded edition of many tens of CDs will not soon appear for the $100 that you suggest for a new old stock single disc.

Patience in this things is crucial. 

Do not pay more than the value of a current release for a deletion. In the current climate of super budget priced re-issues, just wait and you wish will be met for a tiny fraction of what you might expect!

ATB from George

Thank you George.

Do you know how long now that Warner has owned EMI? Given your followings of similar business deals of the past, any idea on what the wait time may be?

Regards

Aric

EMI fell to the Universal group sometime in the last two years. Sometimes you can still get EMI label CDs, but mostly now as Universal re-printed with the Warner imprint.

At the moment they seem to be going for a complete re-issue of everything in the EMI catalogue, so it cannot be long before J- du Pre is issued in totality. Certainly not more than year or two. 

Klemperer has been re-issued and so has Sir Adrian Boult, so not long to wait I would think, speaking as one who has waited two decades for certain recordings.

Jacquie is far too hot a recorded artist to languish for long.

But don’t go buying expensive new old stock, unless you cannot wait. Isserlis will more than be nice enough in the meantime! Or Truls Mork on Virgin! Excellent and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra is also wonderful in accompaniment ...

Just the experience of buying records since 1971 ...

ATB from George

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2kOwAEfWVg

Truls Mörk in the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra recording.

Enjoy, though the link is only for the first movement. Once again the CD issue is much finer.

ATB from George

Received the Sony Isserlis recording yesterday and played. Technically very nice, but it lacks the passion of Sadlo. It's a shame the Sadlo is not available via CD (or even LP-new)! 

I think the old Sadlo recording is rather wonderful. not flashy in the virtuosic sense and with a specially well judged tempo in the Finale, which has often been taken faster since, but not in my view bringing any musical expressive advantagel. 

The reason I started this thread is that by now many people will be too young to have ever known of Sadlo’s recording, and many older people would no doubt enjoy the reminder!

What I listen to is a transfer from LP of it in iTunes. It is still the recording I like the best, though no doubt that Jacqueline du Pre’s recording is splendid as are recordings by Rostropovich and Mork.

I have not heard every recording by any means, so if anyone wants  share their recommendations please do.

Very best wishes from George

On dear, sorry to hear that.

If you have access to Spotify, you can find several versions to try, including

Jacqueline du Pre.

not really being familiar with this piece of music until this thread strarted, I found the Steven Isserlis version a bit lacking in feeling, and a little too down tempo. I prefer the Miklos Perenyi with the Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra version, it's more up tempo and definitely has more feel to it.

Both these versions I played from Tidal.

Dear Simon,

Even on youtube your recommendation of Miklos Perenyi is rewarding! There is something in the Central European performance tradition that seems to get right into the skin of this music. 

Thanks for pointing me toward another lovely performance.

Best wishes from George

Thanks George - I was hoping you would be able to compare and 'calibrate' the performance.

BTW I really look forward to the little musical gems you introduce me to from time to time

Dear Simon,

It is funny, because I start a little thread on a lovely and slightly unknown piece of music that I adore and it ends up costing me money following up the suggestions such as your’s!

Best wishes from George