Need a Recommendation for Classical Cello...

Janos Starker playing Sonata for Unaccompanied Cello by Zoltan Kodaly is incredible. I wouldn't say less "busy" though - if anything, it's a bit more "out there". But it's absolutely a must have for cello enthusiasts. I only have it on the original Westminster vinyl, so I can't vouch for the CD versions but here are a couple of them:

http://www.delosmus.com/item/de10/de1015.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Top-Music-Janos-Starker-Starker-Plays-Kodaly-SACD_W0QQitemZ4784805249QQcategoryZ46354QQcmdZViewItem

While not unaccompanied, probably the closest to what you're looking for as a composer is David Popper, who wrote a good deal of "romantic" cello music in the late 1800's. Most of it was beautiful music for cello and piano. (He married a student of Liszt's and performed mostly with her). Here's a link to his Bio:

http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/artist/artist.cgi?ARTISTID=1086178&TMPL=LONG#bio

My favorite Popper recording is unfortunately only on vinyl, but I'm sure there are some great CD's out there4. Here's a Delos CD of Starker playing Popper which I'm sure is quite nice:

http://www.delosmus.com/item/de30/de3065.html

Hope this helps.

Yo-Yo Ma has an album called "Solo," which features only works for unaccompanied cello. However, the selections include composers like Kodaly and Sheng, which might not be what you are looking for. Nonetheless, it's an option, and you might find some new composers that you like...

I would also second the above recommendations of the Dvorak and Elgar concertos, as well as the Brahms sonatas. I would add to that the Barber cello concerto and sonata, the Lalo concerto, and the Schumann concerto. The Schumann, in particular, is an unabashadly romantic, beautiful piece.

On the less lush, romantic side, Tchaikovsky's Rococco Variations are beautiful, as are Haydn's two cello concertos (the D major has a melancholy tinge to it). Beethoven's five cello sonatas are wonderful, and he also composed a set of three variations for cello and piano that are charming.

As far as cellists go, here are a few names to look for: Yo-Yo Ma (obviously), Paul Tortelier (relatively unknown, but terrific), Jacqueline du Pre (especially for the Elgar), Mstislav Rostropovich (Dvorak and Tchaikovsky), Pierre Fournier (along with Tortelier, my two favorites for the Bach Suites), and Ralph Kirschbaum (excellent Elgar and Barber).

These are just a few suggestions... there are so many options! I hope you enjoy the process of discovering more of what's out there for this wonderful instrument.

Happy Listening,
Eric

Thanks, everyone!

B

WHOA! Hold on there, pardner, don't go away yet. My favorite is Bach's cello concertos by Pablo Casals. (I dislike Yo-Yo Ma - too technical.)

For something ranging between semi-classical and pops, you might just enjoy Julian Weber's 'Travels with my Cello'. Some very nice warm melodies there.

I particularly liked Jacqueline DuPre's BBC recordings...

For some variety with viola da gamba - check out the haunting 'Amor Cruel' with Les Voix Humaines - there are some vocals there, but the deep, mellow, cello-like strings have the lead...