Edward Elgar, Luigi Boccherini, Antonin Dvorak, Camille Saint-SaA«ns, Joseph Haydn, Arnold Schoenberg, Robert Schuman, Daniel Barenboim, Sir John Barbirolli, Jacqueline du PrA©, Valda Aveling, Georg Mathias Monn, London Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra - Jacqueline du Pre - Favourite Cello Concertos ~ Boccherini, Dvorak, Elgar, Haydn, Monn, Saint-Saens, Schumann

During her far-too-brief career, cellist Jacqueline du Pré exhibited an almost oracular power of communication. Her performances bristled with the kind of brilliant electricity that could change lives and convert listeners to a lifelong love of music. Happily, it's possible to experience a sense of that power from the recordings du Pré completed before multiple sclerosis halted her career as a performer in the early 1970s. This set provides a splendid portrait--at bargain price--of du Pré's unmistakable personality: the astonishingly original yet convincing phrasing, raw energy, and ability to make her instrument sound uncannily like a human voice (du Pré was after all a favored student of Mstislav Rostropovich). Her rendition of Haydn's Concerto in C is clearly cast in a romantic--and nowadays perhaps unfashionable--mold, yet du Pré's big, bold tone carries the musical line forward with exhilarating presence. It's a demeanor that proves especially reassuring for the quirkily mercurial inventions of Boccherini. Yet du Pré most indelibly leaves her signature on the work that became her hallmark, Edward Elgar's E Minor Concerto, grafting a deeply personal level of expression onto the score's rich post-World War I melancholy. In the Schumann, du Pré makes an eloquently passionate protagonist. A similar sense of excitement is to be heard in Dvorák's Concerto--performed near the end of her career--above all in the flame of inspiration she evidently sparks from the orchestra in the serene close of its slow movement. This is a supremely rewarding collection for the beginner and aficionado alike. --Thomas May Amazon.com essential recording

the best celloist

Du Pre was, and will unsupassed by contemporary cellists for generations. She is still the best, and will be remembered by many forever. September 30, 2008

Cello masterpiece

If you enjoy good cello music this is for you. Jacqueline du Pre is a master. April 21, 2008

Great performance. but VERY bad recording quality

No complaint about the performance.

But the recoding or A->D conversion somewhere went terribly wrong. The dynamic range seems set very low therefore the loud part of the music gets 'clipping'. For example, Disk 3, Track 1, between 0:40 to 1:10, you can clearly hear the distortion noise at the high level of the music (not your playback volume).

What a pity, the recoding engineers simply not up to the job and ruined such a fine performance! February 13, 2008

Wonderful Collection

This is a wonderful collection of Jacqueline du Pre's work, both because it traces her development as an artist, her unique interaction with various conductors and her interpretations of a variety of composers. Jacueline du Pre is a cellist for all time. July 28, 2007

Beutefully interpretted

Jacquline du Pres interprettation of some of the moast famous cello consertos is simply amasing. her music just flows with energy and abbowe all passion. she realy brings out the qaleties of the cello with intensety and softnes intertwined. music bursting with passion. April 4, 2007

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