David Popper was a recognised cello virtuoso, as this
generous collection of miniatures for the instrument demonstrates. The
young violinist Kreisler heard him in 1905 when he was nearing the end
of his playing career, and recognised the ‘vanished and heroic days
of virtuosity’ in the elderly man’s playing, and found his improvised
cadenzas remarkable. Regrettably there were no recordings, but his music
was popular in recitals (‘the inevitable Popper’ as George Bernard Shaw
would call it in his reviews) even if it struck fear into student cellists
as they were made to tackle his book of studies for the instrument.
By the time you have heard the twenty examples here, pretty well all
that is possible on the cello has been demonstrated (double-stopped
octaves Track 5, 06’40", headlong speed at dizzy heights Track
15, 00’ 30", combining virtuosic bowing and agile fingerwork in
Track 17, 00’40"). They are all charming vignettes in a wide variety
of pastiche styles from Gypsy music and French Album Leaves to a Spanish
Tarantella and a German Lullaby.
Janos Starker, now approaching 80, but this recording
is 15 years old, plays them all with admirable flexibility of style
and response to colour, as well as bringing to the playing his impeccable
virtuosity and musical artistry. He is true to the task in hand, for
it is vital to take it all seriously, with no hint of cliché
or parody, and given the impeccable ensemble and sensitivity of his
pianist, Shigeo Neriki, the result is highly enjoyable from start to
finish, and a must for cellists, of course.
Christopher Fifield
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Janos Starker (cello)