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Comparison recordings:
Bloch: Schelomo, George Neikrug, Stokowski, Symphony of the
Air, EMI
Bruch: Kol Nidrei, Pablo Casals, cello, Nicolai Mednikoff,
piano, Naxos
Although from Clara Schumann forward we were used
to the idea that great pianists could also be attractive women,
when I was a boy all the great violinists were ugly old men with
beautiful souls. Now, it seems most of the world’s great violinists
are beautiful girls. Looks like the same thing might happen with
cellists. Nina Kotova is the most beautiful cellist in the world,
and, simply, she is also the finest cellist I have ever heard. She
has the rich depth of tone of Starker, the intelligence and variety
of phrasing of Rostropovich, and, even when compared to Casals,
does not come up short on power of expression. She achieves cantorial
sadness and ecstasy in Schelomo and the Prayer equal to anything
I have heard in any other recording. Although Orbelian is not quite
a Stokowski, the latter is hindered by dated sound. Kotova has much
richer tone than Neikrug, and so, yes, this is the best Schelomo
I’ve ever heard (track 2). Of course, Dolby 5.1 playback certainly
helps; while there is no mention of Dolby on the label, in fact
the recording will decode nicely on your surround sound player.
There is mention in the notes of parallel release of this program
on SACD, but for a CD this sound is of demonstration quality throughout.
The picture on the back of the jewelcase would
suggest that when Kotova was a little girl she wanted to grow up
to be Princess Turandot, or maybe a Russian Princess whose favourite
Saturday night pastime was flogging her serfs. In her picture on
the disk itself, she seems to be smiling over a private joke. On
the cover of the program booklet, she looks more like someone it
would be worth getting to know, albeit that might be difficult.
Only on the back of the booklet do you get a nice smile, but by
now you realise that a smile like this will have to be earned. My
first reaction to her Cello Concerto was negative; it seemed like
just a bunch of irrelevant carryings on. The second hearing was
much more positive as I realised that while the overall large structure
of the work may be thin, the small scale drama is interesting enough
to carry. On my third hearing I could say I started to enjoy myself
(tracks 3 and 4). She knows what she wants to say, and is confident
enough not to worry if she needs to make a rough sound to say it.
So do not be put off by the princess; when you get to know her,
she can be fun.
And make space next to your Rostropovich and Casals
disks.
Paul Shoemaker
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CDTnº1 - E. BLOCH
Prayer,
From Jewish Life
CDTnº2 - E. BLOCH
Schelomo
- Hebraic Rhapsody
CDTnº3 - N. KOTOVA
Concerto
for Cello and Orchestra
CDTnº4 - N. KOTOVA
Concerto
for Cello and Orchestra
CDTnº5 - N. KOTOVA
Concerto
for Cello and Orchestra
CDTnº6 - M. BRUCH
Kol
Nidrei - Adagio for Cello and Orchestra, Op.47
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Nina Kotova, cello
