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Editorial Reviews

János Starker, one of the most often recorded classical artists ever, appears here on the first CD release of his famous 1950s LP recordings. These recordings were made before Starker was a household name within the cello community, before he began to appear regularly as a solo artist, and long before he held his now infamous post at the Indiana University School of Music. Even those already familiar with Starker's playing will find this two-disc set interesting. Disc one features works for cello and orchestra -- the Boccherini "B flat Concerto" and the transcribed Mozart "E flat Horn Concerto" are staples of the beginning cello repertoire. Starker's playing here is elegant, refined, and noble, as is customary. Also on the first disc is Bartók's "First Rhapsody" (originally for violin). It is here where individuals listening to Starker for the first time in the 1950s must have had their jaws drop. His technical mastery of his instrument was, and still is, unparalleled. Nowhere is this more evident than on disc two during his performance of the Kodály "Solo Sonata," a work whose performance is almost synonymous with Starker. Notoriously one of the most difficult pieces in the cello repertoire, Starker performs as if he's playing a scale. His technical acumen is accompanied by a refined musical sensibility, infusing unbridled energy and passion into the Hungarian work. If you're in the market for your first recording of the Kodály "Solo Sonata," Starker's 1992 recording on the Delos label offers superior sound quality; otherwise, this set is absolutely worthwhile. ~ Mike D. Brownell, All Music Guide All Music Guide

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