Manuel Fischer-Dieskau, Connie Shih - Reinecke: Complete Violoncello Sonatas (2011)

Like Brahms, composer Carl Reinecke was often criticized in his time for being overly conservative and not embracing the progressive, modern musical movement paved by Wagner. In his hometown of Leipzig, however, tradition and conservatism were fashionable and Reinecke's massive output was looked upon favorably. Unlike Brahms, Reinecke's have not withstood the test of time as well. The three cello sonatas -- heard on this MDG disc -- show the clear influence of his friends and colleagues Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Brahms. Reinecke's writing has neither the same level of energy as Mendelssohn, the penchant for lyrical beauty as Schumann, nor the harmonic richness of Brahms. Still, the three sonatas are each pleasing in their own right, and offer listeners additional repertoire from this era that is likely unfamiliar. Cellist Manuel Fischer-Dieskau and pianist Connie Shih provide a technically brilliant performance of these works; balance between piano and cello is quite amicable, and the dialogue between the two instruments gives the impression of true collaboration. Fischer-Dieskau and Shih put a lot of dynamic and tempo contrasts into their playing, giving listeners a musically satisfying experience that keeps attention and interest throughout the disc. MDG's sound is warm and clear, capturing both the richness and clean articulation of both instruments.