Schumann: Cello Concerto; Chamber Music
Mischa Maisky's wide vibrato, big, full tone, exaggerated rubatos, and consistent lunge for the emotional jugular make him a controversial artist, loved by some and disliked by others. This disc will confirm both opinions, as did his earlier, intense recording of the Concerto with Bernstein. Here, he's joined by a much smaller, conductorless orchestra and there's a refreshing give-and-take between band and soloist. Although it reveals countless orchestral details, the close-up engineering spotlights the cello, undercutting the point of recording the chamber orchestra version. Maisky's playing is often breathtaking in its virtuosity. His is an interesting, if overstated, alternative view of the work. Argerich's dynamic partnership at the piano helps make the fillers exciting, too. The5 Pieces in Folk Styleare beautifully done, though some may find them excessively bloated. Ditto for the other short works on the disc.--Dan Davis