Gregor Piatigorsky plays Saint Saens (vaimusic.com)

[theyackinator69]

bravo

[AlamoCityCello]

WOW! This is some very ARTFUL celloing!

I love it!!

[dazvc1]

Piatigorsky is simply one of the finest cellists to ever grace this earth. I am a huge enthusiast of modern music, but whenever I hear Piatigorsky play this piece, I am simply wooed and very appreciative of both the geniuses Piatigorsky and Saint-Saens. As an aspiring cellist myself, he gives me great confidence.

[willy1514]

Watch his bow at 0:36 on this film--amazing. Also, listen to his recording of the Dvorak Concerto (Boston-Munch) where near the end of the first movement he plays an ascending scale on two strings LEGATO. Everyone else has to play it detache. WOW.

[rambunctious9]

@willy1514 rostropovich plays the ascending part more smoothly.. if we are talking about the same part.. ?

[nkip9230]

he plays with practically no endpin,

he is practically bent over his cello!

[Gaarageeksrule]

I thinks it's because he's really tall...I really don't think it's 'cause his intrument is too small.

[dazvc1]

My teacher doesn't use a lot of endpin. He is amazing too - performing internationally and having studied with Harrell and Rostropovich.

[MerlinTheDraconic]

Wow, yeah. It does look strange. Most people I see play with at least a foot of endpin. But, since Piatigorsky does it it must be okay.

[questionmark824]

I guess one of the advantages of being a 'great' cellist is that you can play it however you want without regard to how it was written.. I would hate to have to accompany him.

[apollo1742]

"too much rubato and portamento".

WTF?!?!! Its the late romantic, people, wake up. His interpretation fits perfectly in the style of the music - which is more than you can say about the renditions of some of the current flock of soloists, who play everything the same way - no portamento, same vibrato, same colorless phrasing (compared to some of the old, great artists like Horowitz, Heifetz, Elman, Rose, etc, etc).

Sigh......I wish the good old days were here again.....

[TheTradge]

Have to say that I agree with that original statement about the rubato and portamento =) I can't stand cellists who pull the tempo about far too much, and also those who slide really slowly on the large shifts

[YouveStolenMyEyes]

i don't like his interpretation. it sounds like mine. :)

[urjrj]

idiot

[TheTradge]

Yeah, I don't like it either, he uses FAR too much portimento, and too much rubato. And what the hell, thats different to the urtext!! lol