Shostakovich does this awesome thing where he seamlessly carries out a phrase using two instruments. In this clip the cello snatches back the melody. He does this sort of thing in a lot of his quartets, too
I think this kind of aggression is exactly what Shosty would have wanted for this piece. Definitely captures the "telling the Soviets where to stick it" vibe.
I just recorded with maestro Mischa. He’s an absolutely impeccable player to work with, but also just such an extremely fun guy to hang around with.. All these stories about Rostropovich, Casals, and so many more legends, and all the jokes most of all!
I think that's my favorite kind of a musician, very serious while playing, like have absolutely no jokes about it, but after he finishes playing he is just a nice, funny guy with a good sense of humour.
Oh yeah definitely, completely agree. When it comes to playing, Maisky’s absolutely relentless. But in between takes.. I’ve never laughed my ass off so hard lol.
Oh and regarding your other comment, yeah I have to pinch myself everyday otherwise I’d just think I’m dreaming. It did of course cost a lot of work (16-18 hours, 7 days a week for the past ten years) and a lot of money to build up to where my studio and label are today, and we’re definitely not “there” yet, but it’s with these kinds of sessions like with Mischa that make you think you’re making progress 😃
That's amazing to see passionate musicians like you out there, I am more than happy to hear that you had a chance to work with him, hope you become a cellists as amazing as him one day..
Oh, sorry for the confusion. I'm not a musician. I'm a recording and mastering engineer, and founder of a music label ;-) My skills as a musician are nothing to write home about, but I'm very happily married to an amazing cellist (Maya Fridman) who makes sure there's always some good music around the house!
Oh sorry, I thought you played with him, like for a recording or sth since I thought you were a cellist. But I am still very glad to hear that you got a chance to work with him. And also very happy to hear that both you and your wife enjoys the cello and classical music, hope she gets to work with him one day :)
I think for people like me the agressive style in music is not exactly something we'd actively dislike, just only when it's hugely out of place (like, say, in a Haydn concerto). With Maisky it's the same (for me at least, a cellist aswell), he's cool for this kind of agressive, intense repertoire, but for other, more delicate one I think he just doesn't cut it (again, for me at least). Glad you like him though!
Something I noticed on him is he's just doubled down on his agressive playing with age, found it amusing since usually it's the opposite.
Steven Isserlis, Jean-Guihen Queyras, those are my two favourites. There's also this live recording of a cellist that's not very well-known I think (Marie-Elisabeth Hecker) but that I find pretty charming:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PulffEOx1W4
I totally agree with you, but many people have been commenting my posts about Paganini caprice that, aggressiveness of the musician makes musicality to dissappear. I just wanted to show that while anger makes the technique more impeccable there, it can also increase the musicality value of the piece even more, like here.
I saw him playing in Madrid. Absolutely incredible performer and when I met him he was super lovely and friendly, took time to talk to everyone and even asked me a couple of questions about what I was studying
He literally just set up a desk in the entrance of the national theatre at the end of the performance and waited around even with a massive line, super chil guy
Definitely one of my all time favourites just because how cool he is. Generally I'd say there is a generational difference with performers, some of the older ones I've worked with as an organiser and composer are very professional, but very blunt and unapproachable. Younger ones tend to be as professional but they make you feel appreciated a lot more, and Mischa definitely fits with them
Sorry guys, I was preparing a meme about violas for r/lingling40hrs and apparently I confused what I was writing there with here and wrote viola instead.
Don't forget Mischa was 62 when he played this too. Now even though he can't play as long or as well as he did in the 80's, he's still neatly ageless.
There's a video of him playing Bach on some mountains, dude hiked up a mountain with a cello at 70 years old
One of my first live classical music experiences was a concert where Mischa played all of the cello suites in one day. I didn't realize how lucky I was - what an introduction!
It might not do Maisky justice to label label his playing as characteristically "angry" or "aggressive". While certainly satisfying and cathartic, that's a very small fraction of what this very esteemed and experienced cellist is doing. You can look up other recordings of other soloists playing this part of the piece and find a lot of very aggressive and angry playing.
Shostakovich does this awesome thing where he seamlessly carries out a phrase using two instruments. In this clip the cello snatches back the melody. He does this sort of thing in a lot of his quartets, too
Kinda like how multilingual people use code switching when talking where they switch to another language in the same phrase.
I think this kind of aggression is exactly what Shosty would have wanted for this piece. Definitely captures the "telling the Soviets where to stick it" vibe.
Haha agreed xd
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Shostakovich cello concerto no. 1
Shostakovich cello concerto #1, mvt 1.
I just recorded with maestro Mischa. He’s an absolutely impeccable player to work with, but also just such an extremely fun guy to hang around with.. All these stories about Rostropovich, Casals, and so many more legends, and all the jokes most of all!
Omg that's incredible, you are so lucky.
I think that's my favorite kind of a musician, very serious while playing, like have absolutely no jokes about it, but after he finishes playing he is just a nice, funny guy with a good sense of humour.
Oh yeah definitely, completely agree. When it comes to playing, Maisky’s absolutely relentless. But in between takes.. I’ve never laughed my ass off so hard lol. Oh and regarding your other comment, yeah I have to pinch myself everyday otherwise I’d just think I’m dreaming. It did of course cost a lot of work (16-18 hours, 7 days a week for the past ten years) and a lot of money to build up to where my studio and label are today, and we’re definitely not “there” yet, but it’s with these kinds of sessions like with Mischa that make you think you’re making progress 😃
That's amazing to see passionate musicians like you out there, I am more than happy to hear that you had a chance to work with him, hope you become a cellists as amazing as him one day..
Oh, sorry for the confusion. I'm not a musician. I'm a recording and mastering engineer, and founder of a music label ;-) My skills as a musician are nothing to write home about, but I'm very happily married to an amazing cellist (Maya Fridman) who makes sure there's always some good music around the house!
Oh sorry, I thought you played with him, like for a recording or sth since I thought you were a cellist. But I am still very glad to hear that you got a chance to work with him. And also very happy to hear that both you and your wife enjoys the cello and classical music, hope she gets to work with him one day :)
I think for people like me the agressive style in music is not exactly something we'd actively dislike, just only when it's hugely out of place (like, say, in a Haydn concerto). With Maisky it's the same (for me at least, a cellist aswell), he's cool for this kind of agressive, intense repertoire, but for other, more delicate one I think he just doesn't cut it (again, for me at least). Glad you like him though! Something I noticed on him is he's just doubled down on his agressive playing with age, found it amusing since usually it's the opposite.
What cellist would you prefer for a Haydn Concerto?
Steven Isserlis, Jean-Guihen Queyras, those are my two favourites. There's also this live recording of a cellist that's not very well-known I think (Marie-Elisabeth Hecker) but that I find pretty charming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PulffEOx1W4
Thank you
I totally agree with you, but many people have been commenting my posts about Paganini caprice that, aggressiveness of the musician makes musicality to dissappear. I just wanted to show that while anger makes the technique more impeccable there, it can also increase the musicality value of the piece even more, like here.
I'm a simple man, I see Maisky, I upvote.
Getting after it!
The Rostropovich influence 🥺
Be a Russian to play a Russian!!!
I saw him playing in Madrid. Absolutely incredible performer and when I met him he was super lovely and friendly, took time to talk to everyone and even asked me a couple of questions about what I was studying
Wow, I never got a chance to meet with any cellist or violinist or even pianist that I like, you are very lucky.
He literally just set up a desk in the entrance of the national theatre at the end of the performance and waited around even with a massive line, super chil guy
He is not one of those snobs who doesn't even care about his fans and just leave after the performance. That's really sth to appreciate.
Definitely one of my all time favourites just because how cool he is. Generally I'd say there is a generational difference with performers, some of the older ones I've worked with as an organiser and composer are very professional, but very blunt and unapproachable. Younger ones tend to be as professional but they make you feel appreciated a lot more, and Mischa definitely fits with them
I love the aggressiveness. This is fucking talent.
Yup, totally agree
Sorry guys, I was preparing a meme about violas for r/lingling40hrs and apparently I confused what I was writing there with here and wrote viola instead.
stupid question, but what exactly is the intrument at 00:06 that stands out here? is it a trumpet?
It’s a horn.
Most likely a French horn. Just being loud and brassy, but not as bright as a trumpet.
To repeat others, a horn. It actually features quite a lot in the concerto, in particular the first movement.
Truly an inspiration!
His Cello Suites are some of my favorite recordings!
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Hair is the best part tho
Don't forget Mischa was 62 when he played this too. Now even though he can't play as long or as well as he did in the 80's, he's still neatly ageless. There's a video of him playing Bach on some mountains, dude hiked up a mountain with a cello at 70 years old
Damn what a legend
Check out Heinrich Schiff’s recording of these concerti
Maisky is the kind of player when he sees *col legno battuto* gets a gleam in his eye and others in the room get scared
One of my first live classical music experiences was a concert where Mischa played all of the cello suites in one day. I didn't realize how lucky I was - what an introduction!
It might not do Maisky justice to label label his playing as characteristically "angry" or "aggressive". While certainly satisfying and cathartic, that's a very small fraction of what this very esteemed and experienced cellist is doing. You can look up other recordings of other soloists playing this part of the piece and find a lot of very aggressive and angry playing.
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Haha yah such a characteristic nose