In the years from 1957 to 1959, producer Walter Legge had recordings made of the essential items in the Hungarian cellist’s repertoire. This complete collection of his recordings for EMI Classics and Erato represents the summit of Starker’s achievement on disc. Legge, a perfectionist and a ruthless critic, undoubtedly found in the restrained manner and inward-looking temperament of Starker an ideal talking companion, especially since the two men had a pronounced liking for caustic humour, and one can be sure that the stamp of the famous artistic director was constantly in evidence throughout the recording sessions.
Disc: 1
1. Cello Suite No 1 In G Major, Bwv 1007: I Prelude
2. Cello Suite No. 1 In G Major, Bwv 1007: Ii. Allemande
3. Cello Suite No. 1 In G Major, Bwv 1007: Iii. Courante
4. Cello Suite No. 1 In G Major, Bwv 1007: Iv. Sarabande
5. Cello Suite No. 1 In G Major, Bwv 1007: V. Menuet I & Ii
6. Cello Suite No. 1 In G Major, Bwv 1007: Vi. Gigue
7. Cello Suite No 2 In D Minor, Bwv 1008: I Prelude
8. Cello Suite No. 2 In D Minor, Bwv 1008: Ii. Allemande
9. Cello Suite No. 2 In D Minor, Bwv 1008: Iii. Courante
10. Cello Suite No. 2 In D Minor, Bwv 1008: Iv. Sarabande
11. Cello Suite No. 2 In D Minor, Bwv 1008: V. Menuet I & Ii
12. Cello Suite No. 2 In D Minor, Bwv 1008: Vi. Gigue
13. Cello Suite No 3 In C Major, Bwv 1009: I Prelude
14. Cello Suite No. 3 In C Major, Bwv 1009: Ii. Allemande
15. Cello Suite No. 3 In C Major, Bwv 1009: Iii. Courante
16. Cello Suite No. 3 In C Major, Bwv 1009: Iv. Sarabande
17. Cello Suite No 3 In C Major, Bwv 1009: V Bourree I & Ii
18. Cello Suite No. 3 In C Major, Bwv 1009: Vi. Gigue
19. Cello Suite No 4 In E Flat Major, Bwv 1010: I Prelude
20. Cello Suite No. 4 In E Flat Major, Bwv 1010: Ii. Allemande
21. Cello Suite No. 4 In E Flat Major, Bwv 1010: Iii. Courante
22. Cello Suite No. 4 In E Flat Major, Bwv 1010: Iv. Sarabande
23. Cello Suite No 4 In E Flat Major, Bwv 1010: V Bourree I & Ii
24. Cello Suite No. 4 In E Flat Major, Bwv 1010: Vi. Gigue
Disc: 2
1. Cello Suite No 5 In C Minor, Bwv 1011: I Prelude
2. Cello Suite No. 5 In C Minor, Bwv 1011: Ii. Allemande
3. Cello Suite No. 5 In C Minor, Bwv 1011: Iii. Courante
4. Cello Suite No. 5 In C Minor, Bwv 1011: Iv. Sarabande
5. Cello Suite No. 5 In C Minor, Bwv 1011: V. Gavotte I & Ii
6. Cello Suite No. 5 In C Minor, Bwv 1011: Vi. Gigue
7. Cello Suite No 6 In D Major, Bwv 1012: I Prelude
8. Cello Suite No. 6 In D Major, Bwv 1012: Ii. Allemande
9. Cello Suite No. 6 In D Major, Bwv 1012: Iii. Courante
10. Cello Suite No. 6 In D Major, Bwv 1012: Iv. Sarabande
11. Cello Suite No. 6 In D Major, Bwv 1012: V. Gavotte I & Ii
12. Cello Suite No. 6 In D Major, Bwv 1012: Vi. Gigue
13. Sonata For Solo Cello Op.8: I Allegro Maestoso Ma Appassionato
14. Sonata For Solo Cello Op.8: Ii Adagio - Con Grand'Espressione
15. Sonata For Solo Cello Op.8: Iii Allegro Molto Vivace
Disc: 3
1. Boccherini: Cello Concerto In B Flat, G482: I Allegro Moderato
2. Boccherini: Cello Concerto In B Flat, G482: Ii Adagio Non Troppo
3. Boccherini: Cello Concerto In B Flat, G482: Iii Rondo - Allegro
4. Bach: Air (From Orchestral Suite No.3 In D Bwv1068)
5. Allegretto In The Style Of Boccherini (1995 Remastered Version) - Janos Starker/Gerald Moore
6. Saint-Saens: Allegro Appassionato In B Minor, Op 43
7. La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin
8. Nocturne No. 2 In E Flat, Op. 9 No.2
9. Hungarian Rhapsody, Op.68 (1995 Remastered Version) - Janos Starker/Gerald Moore
10. Arioso (Harpsichord Concerto In F Minor, Bwv1056) (1995 Remastered Version) - Janos Starker/Gerald Moore
11. Schubert: Allegretto Grazioso
12. Schubert: Moment Musicaux D780, No.3 In F Minor
13. The Fair At Sorochintsi, 'Sorochinskaya Yarmarka' (1995 Remastered Version): Gopak - Janos Starker/Gerald Moore
14. Kinderszenen Op 15: Traumerei - Janos Starker/Gerald Moore
15. Debussy: Menuet (From Petite Suite)
16. Tcherepnin: Ode, Op.13
17. 24 Caprices, Op.1 (1995 Remastered Version): No. 13 In B Flat - Janos Starker/Gerald Moore
Disc: 4
1. Haydn: Cello Concerto No.2 In D, Hob.Viib/2: I Allegro Moderato
2. Haydn: Cello Concerto No.2 In D, Hob.Viib/2: Ii Adagio
3. Haydn: Cello Concerto No.2 In D, Hob.Viib/2: Iii Rondo - Allegro
4. Schumann: Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op.129: I Nicht Schnell -
5. Schumann: Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op.129: Ii Langsam -
6. Schumann: Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op.129: Iii Sehr Lebhaft
7. Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No 1 In A Minor, Op 33: I Allegro Non Troppo -
8. Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No 1 In A Minor, Op 33: Ii Allegretto Con Moto -
9. Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No 1 In A Minor, Op 33: Iii Allegro Non Troppo
Disc: 5
1. Cello Concerto In B Minor Op.104: I. Allegro
2. Cello Concerto In B Minor Op.104: Ii. Adagio Ma Non Troppo
3. Cello Concerto In B Minor Op.104: Iii. Finale - Allegro Moderato
4. Konzertstuck For Cello And Orchestra In D, Op 12 (1995 Remastered Version) - Janos Starker/Philharmonia Orchestra/Walter Susskind
Disc: 6
1. Faure: Elegie In C Minor, Op 24
2. Cello Concerto No. 1, Op.136: Nonchalant - Janos Starker/Philharmonia Orchestra/Walter Susskind
3. Cello Concerto No. 1, Op.136: Grave - Janos Starker/Philharmonia Orchestra/Walter Susskind
4. Cello Concerto No. 1, Op.136: Joyeux - Janos Starker/Philharmonia Orchestra/Walter Susskind
5. Cello Concerto In E Minor, Op.58 (1995 Remastered Version): I. Andante - Poco Meno Mosso (Andante Assai) - Adagio - Janos Starker/Philharmonia Orchestra/Walter Susskind
6. Cello Concerto In E Minor, Op.58 (1995 Remastered Version): Ii. Allegro Giusto - Janos Starker/Philharmonia Orchestra/Walter Susskind
7. Cello Concerto In E Minor, Op 58 (1995 Remastered Version): Iii Tema: Allegro - Interludio: L'Istesso Tempo - Variations I-Iii - Interludio Ii: Tempo I: - Variation Iv - Reminiscenza: Meno Mosso - Coda: Poco Piu Sostenuto - Piu Mosso - Janos Starker/Philharmonia Orchestra/Walter Susskind
Disc: 7
1. Sonate Pour Violoncelle No 1 Op 38 : Allegro Non Troppo - Janos Starker And Gyorgy Sebok
2. Sonate Pour Violoncelle No 1 Op 38 : Allegro Quasi Minuetto - Janos Starker And Gyorgy Sebok
3. Sonate Pour Violoncelle No 1 Op 38 : Allegro - Janos Starker And Gyorgy Sebok
4. Sonate Pour Violoncelle No 2 Op 99 : Allegro Vivace - Janos Starker And Gyorgy Sebok
5. Sonate Pour Violoncelle No 2 Op 99 : Allegro Affettuoso - Janos Starker And Gyorgy Sebok
6. Sonate Pour Violoncelle No 2 Op 99 : Alegro Passionato - Janos Starker And Gyorgy Sebok
7. Sonate Pour Violoncelle No 2 Op 99 : Allegro Molto - Janos Starker And Gyorgy Sebok
Disc: 8
1. Sonate No 1 Op 5 No 1 Pour Violoncelle : Adagio Sostenuto - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
2. Sonate No 1 Op 5 No 1 Pour Violoncelle : Allegro - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
3. Sonate No 1 Op 5 No 1 Pour Violoncelle : Allegro Vivace - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
4. Sonate No 4 Op 102 No 1 Pour Violoncelle : Andante - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
5. Sonate No 4 Op 102 No 1 Pour Violoncelle : Allegro - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
6. Sonate No 4 Op 102 No 1 Pour Violoncelle : Adagio - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
7. Sonate No 4 Op 102 No 1 Pour Violoncelle : Allegro Vivace - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
8. Sonate No 5 Op 102 No 2 Pour Violoncelle : Allegro Con Brio - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
9. Sonate No 5 Op 102 No 2 Pour Violoncelle : Adagio Con Molto Sentimentod'Affetto - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
10. Sonate No 5 Op 102 No 2 Pour Violoncelle : Allegro - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
Disc: 9
1. Sonate No 2 Op 5 No 2 Pour Violoncelle : Adagio Sostenuto Ed Espressivo - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
2. Sonate No 2 Op 5 No 2 Pour Violoncelle : Allegro Molto Piu Tosto Presto - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
3. Sonate No 2 Op 5 No 2 Pour Violoncelle : Rondo (Allegro - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
4. Sonate No 3 Op 69 Pour Violoncelle : Allegro Ma Non Tanto - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
5. Sonate No 3 Op 69 Pour Violoncelle : Scherzo - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
6. Cello Sonata No.3 In A Major Op.69 : Ii Adagio Cantabile
7. Sonate No 3 Op 69 Pour Violoncelle : Allegro Vivace - Janos Starker And Gregory Sebok
Disc: 10
1. Bach: Adagio
2. Menuet
3. At The Fountain
4. Nocturne
5. Cello Sonata: Ii. Scherzo
6. Melody In F Major, Op. 3 No. 1
7. Hora Staccato
8. Tre Giorni Son Che Nina
9. The Swan (From Carnival Of The Animals)
10. Capriccio
11. Siciliana
12. Pliaska
13. Pavane Pour Une Infant Defunte
14. Tarantella
In the years from 1957 to 1959, producer Walter Legge had recordings made of the essential items in the Hungarian cellist’s repertoire. This complete collection of his recordings for EMI and Erato represents the summit of Starker’s achievement on disc. Legge, a perfectionist and a ruthless critic, undoubtedly found in the restrained manner and inward-looking temperament of Starker an ideal talking companion, especially since the two men had a pronounced liking for caustic humour, and one can be sure that the stamp of the famous artistic director was constantly in evidence throughout the recording sessions.
The listener will be surprised, on the other hand, when he hears again the first complete set of the Suites of Bach recorded by Starker (he was to record them twice more) by an approach which is much more committed and much more varied than memory will have led him to believe. The manner is of course apollonian, the playing both subtle and full of intensely personal accents, but it is the variation in tempo and the animation with which each Suite is charged that bring to the whole collection an unaccustomed depth, only otherwise to be found in the recent recordings made by exponents of the gamba.
The Sonata of Kodály, recorded between sessions devoted to the complete Suites of Bach, is one of the rare recordings by Starker that reveal the technical mastery that the virtuoso had attained by the end of the Fifties. This electrifying production gives the lie to the legend of an exclusively intellectual and severe János Starker and highlights one of the facets of an artist it is high time we rediscovered in all his varied dimensions. May this issue contribute to a revaluation of a remarkable musical personality.
