Arthur Foote: Cello Concerto - upcoming new recording with Julian Schwarz

[Ilja]

This had somehow eluded me, but having listened to it over the past two hours I am entirely with John. At times, the concerto sounds as a cello solo sonata recorded in a place where next door's stereo seeps through - it's that bad. I don't think I've ever listened to a recording where someone messed the recording balance up this bad. It used to happen with some piano concerto recordings in the 1980s and '90s, and of course with about every Jessye Norman recording (I think she had it stipulated in her contract) but rarely with cello concertos. As for the works, the cello concerto isn't bad per se, but not even close to the inspiration level of the sonata. That one deserves more attention, in a more well-balanced recording with perhaps also a soloist who displays a bit more sensitivity to the necessary excess of this repertory. Don't get me wrong, Schwarz is an excellent cellist but he plays everything very "straight". 

[terry martyn]

The recent Musicweb review was favourable, but,from the sound of things,this  CD is nowhere near the level of the old LP. 

It's also pretty pricy. Maybe it's time to sit on my hands.