Britten: Cello Suites Nos. 1-3

On this CD:

1. Suite No. 1 for cello solo, Op. 72
Composed by Benjamin Britten
Performed by Rohan de Saram

2. Suite No. 2 for cello solo, Op. 80
Composed by Benjamin Britten
Performed by Rohan de Saram

3. Suite No. 3 for cello solo, Op. 87
Composed by Benjamin Britten
Performed by Rohan de Saram

Tracks:

Canto Primo: Sostenuto E Largamente
I. Fuga: Andante Moderato
II. Lamento: Lento Rubato
Canto Secondo: Sostenuto
III. Serenata: Allegretto (Pizzicato)
IV. Marcia: Alla Marcia Moderato
Canto Terzo: Sostenuto
V. Bordone: Moderato Quasi Recitativo
Moto Perpetuo E Canto Quarto: Presto
Declamato: Largo
Fuga: Andante
Scherzo: Allegro Molto
Andante Lento
Ciaccona: Allegro
Introduzione: Lento
Marcia: Allegro
Canto: Con Moto
Barcarolla: Lento
Dialogo: Allegretto
Fuga: Andante Espressivo
Recitativo: Fantastico
Moto Perpetuo: Presto
Passacaglia: Lento Solenne

Customer Reviews:

Not ugly at all!.......2004-12-21

Other reviewers have already pointed out the Tim Hugh's interpretation of these amazing works is 'raspy' or 'expressionist'. These descriptions are both true, but one should not mistake Hugh's interpretation as ugly. One of the wonderful things about Britten's Cello Suites is that they leave themselves open to wildly different interpretations. True, Hugh is not Rostropovich at all. Rostropovich's readings of the first two Suites focus on the creamy, beautiful sound he was capable of producing. However, I do believe that Hugh succeeds in emphasising the structural felicities more than Rostropovich, and he also provides a more coherent emotional atmosphere, particularly in the First Suite. The final moto perpetuo has never sounded so angry as here, making the appearance of the Canto Quarto even more climactic. In the Third Suite, Hugh really emphasises the constant references and transformations of Russian folksongs and the Kontakion. The inner movements convey an intense feeling of claustrophobia before being relieved in the final, dark but uplifting passacaliga. Hugh's technical abilities cannot be called into question as he meets the considerable technical hurdles with ease. Highly recommended.

Not as ugly as one might think.......2001-02-08

Timothy Hugh's playing of these pieces is somewhat expressionist--and one might consider it empty of any kind of sentimentality that pervades too many interpretations of Britten's music. This is why I like this very honest performance. The recording quality is surprisingly good and you might gain something from this record.

The cello sounds so ugly..........2000-02-13

I have other records with Tim Hugh, which I do not dislike at all. Therefore, and also considering the low-price, I will not rate this record as severely as I am tempted to do.

Customer Reviews:

Educational. Not entertaining........2001-01-11

Thinking the 100 tracks this four volume set has to offer would be a relaxing in the car, or underscored during work time, I found the compilation of various composers to be rather jarring. Each CD contains 25 tracks of different movements from 6 to 8 artists, which don't follow any pleasing through line. If you are interested in learning just who composed which famous piece, or if you need to have on hand the top 100 classical pieces (according to whom? I don't know), then this may be right for you. If you are looking for leisure then I suggest you find something that actually completes a symphony.