Mischa Maisky, Martha Argerich - Beethoven: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5 and Variations (2002)

A case of deja entendu here, since I reviewed these performances when they originally came out. I enjoyed them then and still do, for both artists offer wit, affection and agility. One can at times think the sheer force and passion of Martha Argerich's personality a bit too obvious, not least in the C major Sonata, where Maisky characteristically sounds smoother and more persuasive. Her contribution to the playful finale of the G minor, which she opens, is kittenishly mannered, claws and all, in a way that one may question despite the deftness of her playing; throughout this movement, as sometimes elsewhere, it is Mischa Maisky who sounds the more natural Beethovenian, and one wishes that his pianist did not feel the need to make us register every sforzando or staccato marking. However, these performances are always stimulating and both instruments are very well recorded, the piano placed (of necessity, I suspect) somewhat backwardly in relation to the cello but never overshadowed. Indeed, Maisky is embarrassingly swamped by Argerich's thunderous left-hand octaves in the passage at 7'08'' in the first movement of the A major Sonata.
The three sets of variations are early pieces (the last, WoO46, dates from 1801) and more conventional than the Op. 18 string quartets and the contemporary piano sonatas, but Maisky and Argerich make the most of their faded rococo charms and these performances bring many a smile to the face.
Collectors wishing for a more inward-looking approach to the sonatas, especially the late pair of Op. 102, may well consider the mid-price alternative account of all this music by Jacqueline du Pre and Daniel Barenboim, recorded by the BBC at the 1970 Edinburgh Festival. This earned JOC's praise in these pages for its thoughtfulness as well as its ''spontaneity and sparkle''. One has to endure coughing from the audience, but applause has been omitted.'

Track List:

CD 1:
1. Twelve Variations In F Major On The Theme 'Ein Madchen oder Weibchen' From Mozart's Opera 'The Magic Flute': Thema. Allegretto
2. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation I
3. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation II
4. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation III
5. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation IV
6. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation V
7. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation VI
8. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation VII
9. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation VIII
10. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation IX
11. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation X. Adagio
12. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation XI. Poco Adagio quasi Andante - attacca subito:
13. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute': Variation XII. Allegro
14. Sonata For Piano & Cello In F Major Op. 5, No. 1: 1. Adagio sostenuto -
15. Sonata For Piano & Cello In F Major Op. 5, No. 1: Allegro -
16. Sonata For Piano & Cello In F Major Op. 5, No. 1: Adagio - Presto-Tempo primo
17. Sonata For Piano & Cello In F Major Op. 5, No. 1: 2. Allegro vivace
18. Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op. 5, No. 2: 1. Adagio sostenuto e espressivo - attacca:
19. Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op. 5, No. 2: Allegro molto piu tosto presto
20. Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op. 5, No. 2: 2. Rondo. Allegro
21. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute'from: Thema. Andante
22. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute'from: Variation I
23. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute'from: Variation II
24. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute'from: Variation III
25. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute'from: Variation IV
26. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute'from: Variation V. Si prenda il tempo un poco piu vivace
27. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute'from: Variation VI. Adagio - attacca subito: 28. Seven Variations In E flat Major On The Duet 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen' From 'The Magic Flute'from: Variation VII. Allegro ma non troppo

CD 2:
1. Sonata For Piano & Cello In A Major Op. 69: 1. Allegro ma non tanto
2. Sonata For Piano & Cello In A Major Op. 69: 2. Scherzo. Allegro molto
3. Sonata For Piano & Cello In A Major Op. 69: 3. Adagio cantabile
4. Sonata For Piano & Cello In A Major Op. 69: 4. Allegro vivace
5. Sonata For Piano & Cello In C Major Op. 102, No. 1: 1. Andante -
6. Sonata For Piano & Cello In C Major Op. 102, No. 1: Allegro vivace
7. Sonata For Piano & Cello In C Major Op. 102, No. 1: 2. Adagio - Tempo d'Andante -
8. Sonata For Piano & Cello In C Major Op. 102, No. 1: Allegro vivace
9. Sonata For Piano & Cello In D Major Op. 102, No. 2: 1. Allegro con brio
10. Sonata For Piano & Cello In D Major Op. 102, No. 2: 2. Adagio con molto sentimento d'affetto - attacca:
11. Sonata For Piano & Cello In D Major Op. 102, No. 2: 3. Allegro - Allegro fugato
12. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Thema. Allegretto
13. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation I
14. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation II
15. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation III
16. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation IV
17. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation V
18. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation VI
19. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation VII
20. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation VIII
21. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation IX
22. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation X. Allegro
23. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation XI. Adagio
24. Twelve Variations (In G major) On A Theme From Handel's Oratorio 'Judas Maccabaus': Variation XII. Allegro

Performers:
Mischa Maisky, cello
Martha Argerich, piano