James Kreger plays Victor Herbert Cello Concerto No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 30: 2nd Movt: Lento-Andante tranquillo, with the Philharmonia Orchestra (London), Djong Victorin Yu, cond. (New York Cello Masterpieces: Guild GMCD-7235) Website: jameskreger Also on this CD: Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104; Silent Woods (Klid, Waldesruhe), Op. 68, From the Bohemian Forests, No. 5, by Dvorak This CD may be purchased at: Amazon: amazon/Dvorak-Herbert-... ArkivMusic: arkivmusic/classical/D... Downloads: iTunes: itunes.apple/us/album/id35... Recording this Dvořák Concerto, which has been recorded by virtually all the great cellists of the 20th century ... is quite a challenge. The veteran American cellist James Kreger meets it handsomely. His highly disciplined cello playing is uniformly rich in sound, pure in intonation, and convincing in phrasing. - Fanfare The American virtuoso James Kreger — like (YoYo) Ma, a Leonard Rose pupil — plays as beautifully as his more famous counterpart....Comparison with Ma is by no means to Kregers disadvantage. The latter, whose chamber music playing has always touched me, draws a lithe sound from his instrument, rejoicing in a long, sinewy, singing line. His bowing is creamy smooth, his intonation squarely on target, and his phrasing unfailingly lyrical and intelligent. -- International Record Review (Great Britain) The new CD has a bonus: Silent Woods, originally a piano duet, then a cello and piano piece, and heard here in the beautiful orchestral arrangement that Dvorak made in 1893. The dark, velvety sonority of the opening is particularly evocative..Another advantage is the exceptionally well-balanced, spacious orchestral sound — the grand, luminosity of the full orchestral passages in the Dvorak Concerto is most impressive. Kreger is a fine cellist; his tone clear, unforced and well projected, the singing melodies played with lovely legato phrasing, the brilliant passages clear and incisive. There are many magically beautiful moments, especially in the slow movements of both concertos... fine style and interpretive insights... -- Gramophone (Great Britain) The songful, expressive quality of the Kreger sound and musicianship are heard instantly in the opening measures of the Dvorak Silent Woods, and they continue to shine — balanced by brilliant virtuosity — in both of the grand concerti. James Kreger, mastersinger of the cello....stands at the very pinnacle of the world of music in an era of remarkably great cellists. -- Newhouse News Service Kregers performances are outstanding. His burnished tone is rich and mellow, his dynamics subtly nuanced and at times daringly hushed. His bowing is seamless, his intonation irreproachable. Kregers rhapsodic interpretation of the Dvořák Concerto is poignant and touching, while Silent Woods has a rapt inwardness that is mesmerizing. -- The Juilliard Journal A wonderful CD! -- Maestro Carlos Kleiber
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 06:25:23 +0000