Best recording / performance Dvorak Cello conc.

Hey, don't let the lack of an SACD player deter you, the Merc is a hybrid, will play on any CD player. I'm not familiar with most of the recordings you listed above, but I would tend to go for one of the earlier recordings (go by the recording date, not the release date, if you can find that), while Rostropovich was at the height of his powers and before he turned a large portion of his time to conducting. I think the first one on your list would likely be a good one; I like the performance on Erato, but it's apparently out of print.

I would heartliy recommend your #3 choice. Von Karajan's conducting was always, for me, a more dramatic presentation, involving and alive in ways others simply did not achieve. For me he is one of the few conductors that I can almost identify just by listening. Wheather that is good or bad depends on your point of view. For what it is worth Gramaphone rated this one a Gramaphone award winner and a recording of legendary status whereaqs pENGUIN AWARDS IT A rOSETTE its highest compliment to a recording. In any event enjoy the listening.

Well, just to mix it up some more, here are some CDs I have that I can recommend:
1. Dvorak & Walton Cello Concertos, Gregor Piatigorsky, Munch, Boston SO. RCA Living Stereo.
2. Dvorak Concerto & Bruch Kol Nidrei, Lynn Harrell, Ashkenazy, Philharmonia. Decca/London.
3. Dvorak & Elgar Cello Concertos, Pierre Fournier, Szell and Wallenstein, Berlin Philharmonic. Deutsche Grammophon.

These are all famous cellists. But to get away from the big names for a moment, I'd like to second the good words above for Maria Kliegel on Naxos. I haven't heard her Dvorak concerto, but her Naxos version of the two cello concertos by Shostakovich is very fine, and well recorded too. Finally, and perhaps my own favorite, a Swedish BIS CD features Frans Helmerson and the Gothenburg SO under Jarvi. This has excellent sound and is a very likable, rewarding performance, having more the feeling and sound of a live than a studio performance. Worth checking out. Happy listening.

Texasdave, Thanks for the recommendation on Helmerson/Jarvi. Jarvi's Dvorak on Chandos is pretty good, generally speaking, so I'm going to give this a try. :-)

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.