Steven strikes the perfect balance between fiery heroism, ardent yearning, and meditative reflection; and yet all without a hint of sentimentality. He makes the technical challenges look easy, in fact one is not aware of the technique at all, just the music. The technique serves the music perfectly. Phrasing is immaculate and pure. It’s exciting, powerful, passionate, the perfect Dvorak concerto.
First movement Exposition 0:31 first subject (orchestra) 2:32 second subject (orchestra) 4:01 cello enters with first subject in the major 6:16 second subject (cello) Development 8:38 start of development section 9:51 cello enters with development of first subject Recapitulation ! 11:44 second subject recapitulated in B major 14:01 first subject recapitulated in B major 14:22 coda 15:32 Second movement A 15:32 main theme 16:04 cello enters with same theme B 18:17 introductory theme 18:30 cello enters with main theme B’(basically B but in B minor, if you consider the movement to be in ABBA form) 19:42 cello enters with accompaniment to the central part’s main theme A’ 21:26 main theme again 22:19 cello cadenza 24:51 coda ? 27:01 Third movement A 27:01 Introduction 27:38 first subject 28:48 second subject 29:05 cello enters with second subject 29:51 third subject 30:50 transition that takes us to… 31:22 second subject again 31:47 cello enters with second subject yet again 32:26 first subject again, played by the cello 32:43 orchestra transitions to… B 33:11 first subject 33:42 second subject 34:15 short bridge passage that announces the return of… 34:39 first subject again 35:05 second subject again (A again, somewhat) 35:18 part A first subject makes it’s triumphant return 36:02 bridge passage derived from part A first subject that takes us to… 37:01 coda
Wow! He definitely OWNED that concerto and the stage!!! Marvelous playing. As an adult beginner student on the cello, I found it fascinating to watch his fingerings and how accurately they moved with such ease! Bravo! And thank you for posting.
Thank you for sharing this. I listened to it for the first time after having heard so many interpretations of the piece. This one beats them all. It’s unique, second to none.
I came just home from a concert where Steven Isserlis played Prokofjev´s Cello Concerto with Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Wanted to listen more and found this. Thank for posting! This is fantastic!
Played with style and even humor! You could see the bassoons chuckling around measure 100 when Isserlis drops his dynamic and kind of swaggers up the ascending line. He makes it look so easy. Good thing they caught this performance on film.
37:50 is beautiful, i also rly loved the part at 18:29, imo one of the best or the best part of the whole concerto. Coming in close is the part from 27:00 (around there) and forward
