This disc is billed
as above but starts with the Schnittke
and concludes with the Rachmaninov.
The ordering seems sensible since it
certainly ends on a high. Schnittke’s
Suite in the Old Style is much
more "Old Style" than Schnittke.
This is a series of 5 short pieces within
which interest value seems generally
proportional to speed (i.e. the faster,
the better). The quick movements are
entitled Ballet and Fugue, and are placed
second and fourth. The concluding Pantomime
is also interesting and the ending quite
enigmatic. Convincingly played, this
is a curiosity but it’s worth an airing.
The two accompanying
cello sonatas are probably the greatest
Russian works in this genre and
a very attractive coupling. Without
beating about the bush, I should say
now that the Rachmaninov is the best
version I have yet heard on disc. In
particular, in terms of Russian spirit,
it comfortably eclipses both Truls Mørk/Jean-Yves
Thibaudet on Virgin and Yo Yo Ma/Emanuel
Ax on Sony. Gorokhov and Demindenko
are both faithful to the score and completely
inside the music. Rubato is used sparingly
but tellingly. Despite its fairly short
duration, they manage to convince one
that the slow movement is among Rachmaninov’s
greatest inspirations (which, in my
view, it is). The sound is fine and
this can be recommended without reservation.
Unfortunately, I would
not say the same for the Shostakovich.
Whilst, in the other works, the instruments
are well-balanced, here the cello seems
more forward and Gorokhov’s breathing
intrudes quite frequently. But that
is a minor consideration compared to
the interpretation. To me, this sounds
like Rachmaninov’s 2nd cello
sonata rather than Shostakovich. In
fairness, as Ian Lace implies (see link
to review below), for him this is relatively
romantic music. But others have shown
that this has a tougher side and is
among his finest early works, most notably
Rostropovich and the composer (not to
my knowledge currently available on
CD) and Torlief Thedéen/Roland
Pöntinen (from the mid-1980s on
BIS). As well as over-romanticising
the work, this new version seems to
lack impetus in the outer movements.
The scherzo and largo are much better
but cannot rescue the overall conception.
In short, the Rachmaninov
is a "hit" but the Shostakovich
a "miss".
Patrick C Waller
See also review
by Ian Lace
Leonid Gorokhov (Cello) 
