Beethoven - Complete Music for Cello & Piano - Avie: AV2103 - 2 CDs

…a wonderful testament to the exemplary partnership that has developed between cellist Antonio Menses and pianist Menahem Pressler over the past decade. — BBC Music Magazine, Proms 2008, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 27th May 2008
Catalogue No: AV2103
Label: Avie

Gramophone Magazine

August 2008

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Beethoven: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5

Antonio Meneses (cello) & Menahem Pressler (piano)

Beethoven: Variations (12) on "See the conquering hero comes" for Cello and Piano, WoO 45

Antonio Meneses (cello) & Menahem Pressler (piano)

Beethoven: Variations (12) on "Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen" for Cello and Piano, Op. 66

Antonio Meneses (cello) & Menahem Pressler (piano)

Beethoven: Variations (7) on "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen", for Cello and Piano, WoO 46

Antonio Meneses (cello) & Menahem Pressler (piano)

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Beaux Arts Trio founder Menahem Pressler and fellow Beaux Arts cellist Antonio Meneses join forces on this special recording of Beethoven’s complete music for cello and piano. The 2-disc set is scheduled for release to coincide with the Beaux Arts Trio’s extensive farewell concert tour. Both artists are consummate chamber musicians and Mr. Meneses considers this recording collaboration to be a “dream come true.” Pressler and Meneses have been performing the complete cycle of sonatas around the world to the delight of audiences and critics alike.

Reviews

Proms 2008

…a wonderful testament to the exemplary partnership that has developed between cellist Antonio Menses and pianist Menahem Pressler over the past decade.

These are great, illuminating performances

2010

Between them, Menahem Pressler and Antonio Meneses offer us a rare listening privilege, with playing that is at once intimate, conversational, reposeful, intelligent and, above all, simple in its musical intentions, which are, or seem to be, to present the music without excessive interpretative intervention. Not that these are in any way bland performances: Pressler may now be a venerable 84 but his wisdom isn't at a high premium, either mentally or physically: both his mind and to a large extent his fingers are still remarkably agile. Maybe the call to arms in the first movement of the Third Sonata, Op 69, sounds less forceful than on some rival versions, but it certainly doesn't drag and the crucial virtue is concentration: throughout this set both players hold the line without letting it flag and although moments of rapt intensity are far too plentiful to catalogue in detail.
The outer movements of both Op 102 sonatas achieve clarity without clatter (some pianists force an excessively hard tone here) but if you fancy a prime sampling of Meneses/Pressler magic, then sample the Conqu'ring Hero Variations, starting with the chorale-like piano variation then picking up the tempo before relaxing again for some slow-breathing dialogue. There's nothing sensational about it, no showing off or theatrical arching of eyebrows, just the joy of hearing two seasoned players getting it absolutely right. A rare privilege, and a credible, gently stated alternative to more forthright sets.

August 2008

Menahem Pressler and Antonio Meneses offer us a rare listening privilege, with playing that is at once intimate, conversational, reposeful, intelligent and, above all, simple in its musical intentions.

Beethoven - Complete Music for Cello & Piano

2 CDs

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