Marina Tarasova – Alto CD

Rachmaninov: Music for Cello and Piano

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:37:19 +0000

Cello masterpieces by the twentieth century’s Russian romantic master

“Tarasova is one of Russia’s best kept secrets.”
— Michael Cookson, Musicweb International

Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata dates from the same period as his Piano Concerto No. 2, and is dedicated it to Anatoliy Brandukov, who gave the first performance in Moscow with the composer at the piano. Rachmaniniov disliked calling the work a cello sonata as he’d written music making the two instruments equals. Cellist Marina Tarasova and pianist Alexander Polezhaev couple this challenging sonata with short romantic masterpieces by Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky.

Sergei Rachmaninov

Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor, Op. 19

I. Lento – allegro moderato 15:31
II. Allegro scherzando 7:00
III. Andante 6:10
IV. Allegro mosso 10:42
Vocalise, Op.34 No.14 (transcribed by Anatoli Brandukov) 4:03
Romance/Ballade, Op.1 No.5 in A major 6:18
Elegy in Eb minor, Op.3 No.1 7:15
Prelude, Op.23 No.10 in G major 3:54

Piotr Il’ich Tchaikovsky

Nocturne, Op. 19 No. 4 4:31
Pezzo Capriccioso, Op. 62 6:40

Kabalevsky: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:36:58 +0000

“Tarasova has a vibrant intensity, enormous tonal eloquence and a dazzling technique. … [T]he poignant ending of the [Cello Concerto No.2’s] middle movement comes off beautifully.” — Penguin Guide

Marina Tarasova’s recordings of Soviet-era cello repertoire for Olympia Records met with unanimous critical acclaim from the music press, but remained elusive for many collectors seeking out these often hard-to-find CDs when they were initially issued. Alto is pleased to return to international availability Tarasova’s recordings of the two cello concertos of Dmitri Kabalevsky, whose music was among the most popular of the Soviet era. The CD also includes two Kabalevsky rarities for violin and piano.

Dmitri Kabalevsky

Cello Concerto No.1 in g minor “Muzgiz”

I. Allegro 7:06
II. Largo-Molto espressivo 5:04
III. Allegro-Allegro molto 6:45
Cello Concerto No.2 in c minor “Muzyka” 30:59
Improvisato for Violin and Piano * 4:18
Rondo for Violin and Piano * 6:58

Marina Tarasova, cello
Veronika Dudarova / Symphony Orchestra of Russia
* Natalia Likhopoi, violin / Ludmila Uritskaya, piano

Khachaturian: Cello Concerto & Concerto-Rhapsody

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:36:57 +0000

Bravura cello showpieces from Armenia’s greatest composer

“Tarasova is one of Russia’s best kept secrets … [The] Concerto-Rhapsody is a big-boned cello concerto in all but name and soloist Marina Tarasova was made for the part; bold and gutsy and taking the work by the scruff of the neck. … Recommendable for Tarasova’s amazing performances.”
— Michael Cookson, Musicweb International

Born in Armenia in 1903, Aram Khachaturian showed early interest in music and left his native country for Moscow where he learned to read Russian and entered music school at the Gnessin Institute. At the Moscow Conservatory, he studied both cello and composition with GliÃ¨re, Gnessin and Miaskovsky. His music, strongly influenced by folk music of his native Armenia, was built on what author David Ewen descruibes as “[t]he intonations, the rhythmic patterns, the oriental colourings, and the dramatic emotional contrasts found in Armenian folk songs and dances are the predominant traits of Khachaturian’s music.”

Originally released on Olympia Records to strong critical acclaim, the recording showcases the talent of cellist Marina Tarasova, who has been hailed as “one of Russia’s best kept secrets” by Musicweb International.

Myaskovsky: Cello Concerto / Cello Sonatas

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:36:35 +0000

“I am now quite convinced that [Tarasova] is one of the leading cellists of her generation. She has a tone as rich as the best Bordeaux, and the sheer intelligence of her playing, particularly in Myaskovsky’s frequent long-breathed cantabile passages, commands instant admiration: I knew within bars that I was in the presence of something special, for she really makes the instrument speak.”
—Martin Anderson, CD Review, 1994

***”Tarasova earns praise for the coupling, a strong musical personality and magnificent tone.”—Penguin Guide

Alto is pleased to return to international availability Marina Tarasova’s acclaimed recording of Nikolai Myaskovsky’s major works for the cello, originally released on Olympia and now available at an outstanding value price.

Nikolai Myaskovsky

Cello Sonata No.1 in D Major, Op.12

1 – Adagio–Andante–(attacca) Allegro passionato

Cello Sonata No.2 in a minor, Op.81

1 – Allegro moderato
2 – Andante cantabile
3 – Allegro con spirito
Alexander Polezhaev, cello

Cello Concerto in c minor, Op.66

1 – Lento, ma non troppo
2 – Allegro vivace

Marina Tarasova, cello
Yevgeny Samoilov / Moscow New Opera Orchestra

Originally released on Olympia
Produced for reissue by Paul Arden-Taylor

Davidov: Cello Concertos

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:36:14 +0000

“[P]leasant romantic fare, nicely performed and generally well recorded. Davidov was a cello prodigy who… served as a professor at St Petersburg Conservatoire, played cello in a string quartet that numbered among its ranks Auer and Wieniawski, and was described by Tchaikovsky as ‘the king of all 19th-century cellists.’ Perhaps his best-known piece is At the fountain from his Op. 20, a charming morceau. … Davidov concertos require both considerable stamina and an attractive tone. The young, prize-winning cello virtuoso Marina Tarasova certainly weaves an elegant musical line – sweet and well-rounded. … Cellists in search of attractive encore material will also enjoy the various short pieces with piano, Op. 30 especially.”
— Gramophone©
“[T]he cello playing is quite special. This would be one of the best things on the label”
— Christopher Ball, Dvorák Society

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky dubbed Karl Yulievich Davydov the “tsar of cellists” – and influenced the virtuoso’s own unabashedly romantic music for his instrument