I'm seeing a number of comments nitpicking about 'technique' and criticism over his approach to Bach. To this group, I say "you're missing the point." This is the first time I have ever heard Rostropovich play this suite and it was so full of soul and beauty, I actually held my breath for a moment. I haven't been this inspired by a musician in years. I can't wait to play this movement again now! How dead must you be inside to look to dry technicalities to find fault, instead of being inspired?
Anyone who would be as blasphemous and self delusional to even pretend they are qualified to utter even a syllable about this man or his abilities should really just fuck off.Idiots the lot of them.
I agree with you 100%. As a former orchestral cellisist, I agree with the notion of maintaing traditional technical principles. But expression of this beauty and caliber transcends the need or use of such technical dogmas. Based on my experiences however, I am sad to say I came across many toxic personalities, who often nitpick to such extents in order to justify and deflect their own shortcomings as instrumentalists.
i don't deny that there are a TON of talented musicians that can play this prelude super fantastic, but there is just a huge difference between everyone else and rostropovich. i crave his stuff
I have listened to Yo-Yo Ma's version of this many times, and It's amazing to see how different a piece can be when played by someone else. Minor alterations in intonation and timing can make a world of difference. Both versions are beautiful and are played with a masters touch.
I do not have anything meaningful to say about this performance. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard of Rostropovich. All I have to tell is that I feel my soul has been cleansed in a way no other thing can. Bravo and rest in peace sir!
I would LOVE to see you put a recording of you playing this online. Rostropovich is one of the greatest cellists to ever live. There is a reason people still listen to him, and did listen to him; we was actually musical.
I really love the roughness of the sound when he plays double strings. It contrasts so fantasticly with the gentle power of when he uses one. I have listened to many musicians play this and few really achive that balance.
I have great admiration for master cellists and ofcourse and to the other people who learn and play music. But Rostropovich here, his play its a divine thing. He put away all his senses and put them to cello. Expression at its finest
Brilliant acoustics; great tone; a real pleasure to listen to - and to have access to this at all is great! Awesome stuff, I like the gentleness in the sound.
I'm no cellist but how he uses the bow sometimes close to the fingerboard sometimes nearer the bridge varies full warm to high clean brings so much nuance to his playing it blows my mind. From the first note he brings out so many overtones through his left hand because he really feels every note and its place. Divine
I've been listening to various interpretations of this particular piece lately, and enjoy Rostropovich's the most. Right behind is Daniil Shafran's. Both can bring me to tears.
Simply awesome. Rostropovich is the one that, in my opinion, brings the prelude to it's most beatiful and flawless state, balancing serenity and sadness in a unique way. When I'm done learning Fauré's Elegy I will start studying this piece ^^
R.I.P. One of the greatest Cellists. You shouldn't be arguing who is better between Yo-Yo Ma and Rostropovich, they both play masterfully and have their seperate styles. I'm sure they both had great respect for eachother as fellow Cellists and musicians who bring Bach's music back to life even in this day and age, and you should respect them both too instead of fighting over who's better.
A 3D painting. I'm immersed and don't want to leave; must be surrounded by all these layers of pure sound...This is crafted so well you don't see the "stitches" or the craftsmanship itself. It simply flows.
Unlike other interpretations of this prelude, this one speaks to me the most. I noticed that in other interpretations, they play it in a faster way. This, however, has its own pace. The melody just lingers in my head that I can't stop listening to it.
It takes Rostropovich about 3 minutes to get to the "trio" part whereas others are there in little over 2. I'd only heard "modern " players do this before now. You can hear phrases you miss in the others and most important he has much,much more dynamic variation.Today all is played mf or f and we miss a lot.In science most reach their heights in their 20's but there is something brought to this music, like Beethoven's late masterpieces that requires years of experience,and of course genius.
In my opinion (I am an amateur/sometimes professional cellist), this is the best interpretation of the 5th Prelude - but even Rostropovich made cuts in the video! If you look closely at the 2:57 mark in the video, he is playing the note as a harmonic, but if you listen to the audio recording, there is clearly a lot of vibrato (most probably meaning the note was played "solidly"). Cuts are a normal part of CD's, and I never would have noticed it without the accompanying video! Still the best!!
@Hanmi103 In addition, in my normal A-string-tuned rendition... I have to do pretty funky stretches of my left hand, leaning my hand forwards and backwards. I'm not sure if that's just routine for advanced cello playing in general, and the chords in my version are altered from some original "impossible chords"; I don't have any acquaintances or teachers around to discuss that with.
'Cello position is a very personal matter. The Tortelier spike which is angled and puts the 'cello into a more horizontal position makes left hand work much more immediate and perhaps vibrato easier too, whereas to mind the more upright position is easier for the bow hand. I have always encouraged my pupils to try both and find what works best for them.
@Christherpiper His A string is tuned to the A here, unless my eyes betray me... but he breaks some of the otherwise impossible chords through a shift (not noticeable unless you're watching his hand) so he's not playing the adjusted version. The quality of the cello probably makes up the remaining sound-gap. In other words, normal tuning, but you wouldn't know it by listening.
я согласен с Вами Елена, но многие другие Русские кроме Ростропович не смогли смирились с опричниной, и расстались с Родиной не по своей воле ! как минимум - Сикорский - вертолеты - Зворыкин - телевидение - Гамов - физика - Бродский - лингвист и поэт - Тарковский - режиссер ... + очень. очень ... многие другие Россия из за подонков, сидящих у власти теряет самых лучших своих Сынов и Дочерей! Удачи Всем !
Baroque pieces written in the minor often ended in a what is called a Picardy third: a major chord in the tonic. Sort of like the Christmas carol "Coventry Carol." Although I guess a Picardy third is technically when the major third sounds in the soprano in the final chord.
Wao!!... Como me gustaría aprender a tocar esta melodía... No se que tiene, pero me relaja! Me lleva a tal punto de relajación que siento como si mi cuerpo flotara..Suena un poco ridiculo.. Pero es la verdad! Que hermoso es que una persona en este mundo tan hostil pueda tocar algo tan bello...
Not just technically either. Not only did he offer weekly group lessons for the cost of 1 penny, which greatly helped to spread his technique to another generation but he is also responsible for over 100 pieces in the solo cello repertoire.
No all revoles around blood+..^^ Although I also heard it there. So amazying.. This is divine.. such beatiful sounds. I've heard other performing this piece, on the site as well. And I think he's the best.
@notionpollution The Davidoff that YoYo Ma owns was DuPres' cello and not Rostropovich's By the way I think this cello is not a Stradivarius but an Amati, but I might be wrong... but the sound is really really amazing...
@notionpollution The Davidoff that YoYo Ma owns was DuPres' cello and not Rostropovich's By the way I think this cello is not a Stradivarius but an Amati, but I might be wrong...
It's true, the Russian school does teach that the cello lies down rather than stands up, hence the angle that R has his cello at. By the way the grandfather of the Russian school was Davidov. The stradivarius he owned is in yoyo ma's possesion now. I think Rostropovich is unmatched though.
@notionpollution I hold my cello the exact same way. I've just found it to be more comfortable and it's easier to go up into higher positions when it's right there and you aren't hunched over the cello. If somebody got on my case about that I'd probably stab them with my bow.
@mockingbird307 Easy to play. Nothing is easy to play BEAUTIFULLY. I just played this piece several times, with the normal A-string tuning, and (not for that reason) I found it always really hard to play. The truth is, real masters like Slava (Rostropovich's nickname) just make truly challenging things seem effortless.
I actually agree with you. I think you are trying to say that we have come to a better awareness and understanding of historical culture and arts, and HIP (historical informed practice) has rediscovered the original beauty of early music. How Rostropovich is playing Bach is as if he is playing Brahms. Though the style could be quite inappropriate, he is still the hero of his time, when Baroque music was considered like this. He is nonetheless the finest of that era.
This is why I took up the cello. Pianists and violinists can go super fast all day long, but I'm pretty sure no instrument has anywhere near the capability for expression and depth that the cello does. Amazing performance, amazing cellist, amazing composer, R.I.P.
Most of the editions people play of this suite, avoid the scordatura, with standartd tuning of course you may miss a few notes like that chord you pointed, most of the time people play only C B Aflat, but really the result is almost the same, and i have heard the 3/8 passage is much simpler without scordatura. Im not sure about that though because i only have the arrangement without it so i always play the simple version with my viola hehe
The expression and depth you are hearing is not from the cello. It is from Bach. Listen to any of his violin concertos and they have the same expression and depth not because of the instrument or the performer. Bach is the genius in this video.
@notionpollution The Strad he had before he passed away is NOT in Yo-Yo's possession. He has the Davidov while Rostro had the Duport. Get your facts correct
I'm seeing a number of comments nitpicking about 'technique' and criticism over his approach to Bach.
To this group, I say "you're missing the point."
This is the first time I have ever heard Rostropovich play this suite and it was so full of soul and beauty, I actually held my breath for a moment. I haven't been this inspired by a musician in years. I can't wait to play this movement again now! How dead must you be inside to look to dry technicalities to find fault, instead of being inspired?
Well said. This is my favourite interpretation of the fifth prelude. It's so intense and emotional and his double stops are incredible.
Anyone who would be as blasphemous and self delusional to even pretend they are qualified to utter even a syllable about this man or his abilities should really just fuck off.Idiots the lot of them.
This version and Maisky´s are the most emotional. I like Casals too, but i feel it´s colder
I agree with you 100%. As a former orchestral cellisist, I agree with the notion of maintaing traditional technical principles. But expression of this beauty and caliber transcends the need or use of such technical dogmas. Based on my experiences however, I am sad to say I came across many toxic personalities, who often nitpick to such extents in order to justify and deflect their own shortcomings as instrumentalists.
His is my favourite version/performance of this song
i don't deny that there are a TON of talented musicians that can play this prelude super fantastic, but there is just a huge difference between everyone else and rostropovich. i crave his stuff
In my humble opinion, this is the best interpretation of Bach's fifth prélude.
I have listened to Yo-Yo Ma's version of this many times, and It's amazing to see how different a piece can be when played by someone else. Minor alterations in intonation and timing can make a world of difference. Both versions are beautiful and are played with a masters touch.
Yo-Yo Ma?really?
Those are actually major differences in timing, articulation, dynamic, bowing, expression, vibrato, ....
A genius. Not at all in fashion to play like this anymore in Bach, but he gets the depth of Bach's humanity better than most rivals on record.
Both false. It’s all subjective. Not one more right than the other 😉
Steven Isserlis.
I do not have anything meaningful to say about this performance. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard of Rostropovich. All I have to tell is that I feel my soul has been cleansed in a way no other thing can. Bravo and rest in peace sir!
I would LOVE to see you put a recording of you playing this online.
Rostropovich is one of the greatest cellists to ever live. There is a reason people still listen to him, and did listen to him; we was actually musical.
I really love the roughness of the sound when he plays double strings. It contrasts so fantasticly with the gentle power of when he uses one. I have listened to many musicians play this and few really achive that balance.
Definately the best performance I've heard of this piece. Beautiful.
I've played cello for seven years. After listing to such work, I feel like I know nothing. I wish i could play this piece just as well as he can!
I have great admiration for master cellists and ofcourse and to the other people who learn and play music. But Rostropovich here, his play its a divine thing. He put away all his senses and put them to cello. Expression at its finest
Rich, sonorous, and authorative. My favourite version.
Brilliant acoustics; great tone; a real pleasure to listen to - and to have access to this at all is great! Awesome stuff, I like the gentleness in the sound.
I'm no cellist but how he uses the bow sometimes close to the fingerboard sometimes nearer the bridge varies full warm to high clean brings so much nuance to his playing it blows my mind. From the first note he brings out so many overtones through his left hand because he really feels every note and its place. Divine
I've been listening to various interpretations of this particular piece lately, and enjoy Rostropovich's the most. Right behind is Daniil Shafran's. Both can bring me to tears.
cycloptical26 Ralph Kirschbaum also great
This is just beautiful. Music to feed the soul.
I heard Rostropovich play in a concert in Christchurch NZ in the late 1950s/early 1960s when I was a student. Just wonderful
the first note is remarkable!!...
It breaks my heart.
Absolutely beautiful. :-)
Simply awesome. Rostropovich is the one that, in my opinion, brings the prelude to it's most beatiful and flawless state, balancing serenity and sadness in a unique way.
When I'm done learning Fauré's Elegy I will start studying this piece ^^
He said these bach suites were most important thing in his life
They are in mine, too. Infact, all of Bach. I will need them after the election and henceforth.
R.I.P. One of the greatest Cellists. You shouldn't be arguing who is better between Yo-Yo Ma and Rostropovich, they both play masterfully and have their seperate styles. I'm sure they both had great respect for eachother as fellow Cellists and musicians who bring Bach's music back to life even in this day and age, and you should respect them both too instead of fighting over who's better.
Игра на Струнах Человеческой Души. Воистину Гражданин Мира...🙏
A 3D painting. I'm immersed and don't want to leave; must be surrounded by all these layers of pure sound...This is crafted so well you don't see the "stitches" or the craftsmanship itself. It simply flows.
oh god the goosebumps
Unlike other interpretations of this prelude, this one speaks to me the most. I noticed that in other interpretations, they play it in a faster way. This, however, has its own pace. The melody just lingers in my head that I can't stop listening to it.
Very moving performance and beautifully played. Wonderful.
What a lovely performance! Thanks for sharing!
Giunge nel profondo il suono dell'anima che parla con se stessa.
great piece and a performance full of emotion
Excellent. My preferred interpretation so far. This is how it sounded in my head after I read the sheet music.
+mer red You should try Brian Manker's recordings on iTunes; they are marvellous!
It takes Rostropovich about 3 minutes to get to the "trio" part whereas others are there in little over 2. I'd only heard "modern " players do this before now. You can hear phrases you miss in the others and most important he has much,much more dynamic variation.Today all is played mf or f and we miss a lot.In science most reach their heights in their 20's but there is something brought to this music, like Beethoven's late masterpieces that requires years of experience,and of course genius.
this piece and Suzuki's for the Netherlands Bach Society are amazing. Inbal Segev plays this piece amazingly as well.
rostropovich is a master
Beautiful!!Love it!!
This is pure art ! thanks!
I can’t stop listening
In my opinion (I am an amateur/sometimes professional cellist), this is the best interpretation of the 5th Prelude - but even Rostropovich made cuts in the video! If you look closely at the 2:57 mark in the video, he is playing the note as a harmonic, but if you listen to the audio recording, there is clearly a lot of vibrato (most probably meaning the note was played "solidly"). Cuts are a normal part of CD's, and I never would have noticed it without the accompanying video!
Still the best!!
Rostovovich my favorite cello player to play bach
Him and maisky really bring the dark spooky sounds out of this suite.
i love cello
outstanding performence
he got right in the heart of the piece
I play the bass and this piece fascinates me most
@Hanmi103 In addition, in my normal A-string-tuned rendition... I have to do pretty funky stretches of my left hand, leaning my hand forwards and backwards. I'm not sure if that's just routine for advanced cello playing in general, and the chords in my version are altered from some original "impossible chords"; I don't have any acquaintances or teachers around to discuss that with.
The best part of this song for me is from 2:11-2:35. Beautiful!
'Cello position is a very personal matter. The Tortelier spike which is angled and puts the 'cello into a more horizontal position makes left hand work much more immediate and perhaps vibrato easier too, whereas to mind the more upright position is easier for the bow hand. I have always encouraged my pupils to try both and find what works best for them.
Breathtaking...
my. favorite. suite.
Divine. 😍
@Christherpiper
His A string is tuned to the A here, unless my eyes betray me... but he breaks some of the otherwise impossible chords through a shift (not noticeable unless you're watching his hand) so he's not playing the adjusted version.
The quality of the cello probably makes up the remaining sound-gap.
In other words, normal tuning, but you wouldn't know it by listening.
бесподобно красиво
я согласен с Вами Елена,
но многие другие Русские кроме Ростропович
не смогли смирились с опричниной, и расстались с Родиной не по своей воле !
как минимум
- Сикорский - вертолеты
- Зворыкин - телевидение
- Гамов - физика
- Бродский - лингвист и поэт
- Тарковский - режиссер
...
+ очень. очень ... многие другие
Россия из за подонков, сидящих у власти теряет самых лучших своих Сынов и Дочерей!
Удачи Всем !
+Igor Oleynikov Сколько позитива в Вас,- я прям в шоке,- как это Вы ещё не помянули Ваши мизерные пенсии?...
+Constantin Couznetsov я не на пенсии и не в России. Удачи !
hes great!
This is the best
He's awesome! the first time I saw and heard him play (not in person, just on youtube) I almost shit my pants. oh ya. he is gooood. :D
Divino
Relevant!!!!!
Baroque pieces written in the minor often ended in a what is called a Picardy third: a major chord in the tonic. Sort of like the Christmas carol "Coventry Carol." Although I guess a Picardy third is technically when the major third sounds in the soprano in the final chord.
Wow that is so good! I play this too. But it is very difficult.
I thought another (famous) cellist had the best recording until I heard this
Great
Wao!!...
Como me gustaría aprender a tocar esta melodía... No se que tiene, pero me relaja!
Me lleva a tal punto de relajación que siento como si mi cuerpo flotara..Suena un poco ridiculo.. Pero es la verdad!
Que hermoso es que una persona en este mundo tan hostil pueda tocar algo tan bello...
great
@motu828mk2 That's what I meant to say, if it was not clear....Davidov's (not Rostropovich's) Strad is the one yoyo ma plays.
Гениально! !!!
This man is god! Just perfect!!
Beautiful #LetsCodeTyler
This is the best played version of this song
ГЕНИЙ!!!
C'est sublime et il n'y a aucune critique a faire
That is sad! Aww, one less amazing cellist to light the world.
Not just technically either. Not only did he offer weekly group lessons for the cost of 1 penny, which greatly helped to spread his technique to another generation but he is also responsible for over 100 pieces in the solo cello repertoire.
SilentHouseStudios Yeah. He was practically a saint on top of his support for other musicians.
Gracias Slava....
I personnaly think it's the best song of all time
No all revoles around blood+..^^
Although I also heard it there.
So amazying.. This is divine.. such beatiful sounds.
I've heard other performing this piece, on the site as well. And I think he's the best.
@notionpollution The Davidoff that YoYo Ma owns was DuPres' cello and not Rostropovich's
By the way I think this cello is not a Stradivarius but an Amati, but I might be wrong...
but the sound is really really amazing...
Идеальное исполнение...
@notionpollution The Davidoff that YoYo Ma owns was DuPres' cello and not Rostropovich's
By the way I think this cello is not a Stradivarius but an Amati, but I might be wrong...
Wow...
It's true, the Russian school does teach that the cello lies down rather than stands up, hence the angle that R has his cello at.
By the way the grandfather of the Russian school was Davidov. The stradivarius he owned is in yoyo ma's possesion now.
I think Rostropovich is unmatched though.
@notionpollution I hold my cello the exact same way. I've just found it to be more comfortable and it's easier to go up into higher positions when it's right there and you aren't hunched over the cello. If somebody got on my case about that I'd probably stab them with my bow.
@mockingbird307 Easy to play. Nothing is easy to play BEAUTIFULLY. I just played this piece several times, with the normal A-string tuning, and (not for that reason) I found it always really hard to play. The truth is, real masters like Slava (Rostropovich's nickname) just make truly challenging things seem effortless.
holy shit!
Beautiful i need that right hand
@SHIFTskateCREW like violinists do too, they develop a high sensibility to melody and movement
첼로는 신과 나누는 마음의 소리
I actually agree with you. I think you are trying to say that we have come to a better awareness and understanding of historical culture and arts, and HIP (historical informed practice) has rediscovered the original beauty of early music. How Rostropovich is playing Bach is as if he is playing Brahms. Though the style could be quite inappropriate, he is still the hero of his time, when Baroque music was considered like this. He is nonetheless the finest of that era.
This is why I took up the cello. Pianists and violinists can go super fast all day long, but I'm pretty sure no instrument has anywhere near the capability for expression and depth that the cello does. Amazing performance, amazing cellist, amazing composer, R.I.P.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
음~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~으~음 다 표현할 수 없지만...좋아요
@notionpollution - i thought Rostopovich played the Duport Stradivarius not the Davidov.
Most of the editions people play of this suite, avoid the scordatura, with standartd tuning of course you may miss a few notes like that chord you pointed, most of the time people play only C B Aflat, but really the result is almost the same, and i have heard the 3/8 passage is much simpler without scordatura. Im not sure about that though because i only have the arrangement without it so i always play the simple version with my viola hehe
The expression and depth you are hearing is not from the cello. It is from Bach. Listen to any of his violin concertos and they have the same expression and depth not because of the instrument or the performer. Bach is the genius in this video.
❤️❤️
aww... so sasd he had to pass. he was one of the greats
@notionpollution The Strad he had before he passed away is NOT in Yo-Yo's possession. He has the Davidov while Rostro had the Duport. Get your facts correct
that cello is massive in sound and size!
Looking him play looks very easy to play cello. Is it an esy instrument?
포비치 할아버지??? ^^ 감사했어요 계속해서 감사히 잘 들을게요😂