Sergei Prokofiev: Cello Sonata in C, Op.119

Dmitri Shostakovich: Cello Sonata in D minor, Op.40

Sergei Rachmaninov: Vocalise, Op.34 No.14

Ralph Kirshbaum (cello) & Peter Jablonski (piano)

'Cellist Misha Maisky has a big tone. Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich has a even bigger tone. But cellist Ralph Kirshbaum has the biggest tone of all. Indeed, the sheer density and intensity of his tone seeming too massive to be coming from a mere cello — if one didn't know better, one might swear he was playing a bass. And yet, as he shows in these breathtaking performances of Prokofiev and Shostakovich's cello sonatas with an encore by Rachmaninov,

'Kirshbaum has dexterity as well as density — listen to him negotiate the thorniest passages in the Prokofiev with utmost ease — and virtuosity as well as intensity — listen to him tackle the fastest pages in the Shostakovich with ineffable grace. In fact, there seems to be nothing Kirshbaum can't do — listen to him sustain the long line in Rachmaninov's Vocalise — and nothing he can't express — listen to him articulate the ambiguous mix of affirmation and resignation in Prokofiev's Sonata. Ably supported by pianist Peter Jablonski whose debut recording of Shostakovich's First Piano Concerto on Decca is still fondly recalled by the piece's many fans, Kirshbaum turns in a recording which while it may not be a first choice — there are the canonical recordings of the Prokofiev by Rostropovich and Richter and of the Shostakovich by Rostropovich and Shostakovich — will still amply reward those who already know the music'

Review on www.allmusic.com February 2007

This powerful disc, which sees a welcome return to the recording studio for Ralph Kirshbaum, sees the Shostakovich sonata (the last of Altara’s tributes to this great composer in his centenary year) performed in conjunction with two of the greatest of his fellow Russians.

Two of the greatest of 20th century sonatas for cello are followed by a warm and consoling performance of Rachmaninov’s famous vocalise.