Description
| Joseph Haydn – Cello Concerto No.2 in D Major, Op.101 |
| [1] Allegro moderato 14:14 |
| [2] Adagio 5:41 |
| [3] Rondo – Allegro 5:39 |
| with USSR State Symphony Orchestra / Neeme Jarvi |
| Melodiya, Moscow, 1962 |
| Schubert – Sonata in A Minor, (‘Arpeggione’) |
| [4] I. Allegro moderato 7:33 |
| [5] II. Adagio 4:09 |
| [6] III. Allegretto 7:03 |
| Shostakovich – Cello Sonata, Op 40 |
| [7] I. Moderato 8:41 |
| [8] II. Moderato con moto 3:10 |
| [9] III. Largo 8:05 |
| [10] IV. Allegretto 4:03 |
| both above with Lydia Pecherskaya (piano) |
| RCA studios New York, 1961 |
(Stephen Isserlis): “I love his playing. Sebastian Comberti came up with the best description …it was like finding the last member of a lost tribe of cellists. His playing takes you right back to a different era” “(Schubert) Shafran emerges as very able … not as rhythmically wayward as Rostropovich … the finale has an irresistible rhythmic lilt. (Shostakovich) presents a fuller picture of Shafran’s artistry. He plays with very serious commitment, considerable tonal variety and technical ease, and has a splendid partner in Lydia Pecherskaya – a very perceptive musician throughout the Schubert too. The charm of the Allegretto is very well caught by both artists” (Haydn): Shafran claimed that his affinity with the concerto began before birth: his father was practicing it when his mother went into labour and was reluctant to take her to the hospital until it was perfect !” (Gramophone)
