Maximum contrast is afforded by Casals's 1953 recording of Schumann's Cello Concerto, a startlingly demonstrative affair with heavily thrashed accents, savage entries and a general proneness to exaggeration that makes a meal out of Schumann's already heightened psycho-musical pathology. And yet Casals's unique brand of poetry is frequently heart-rending: try from 11'25" into the first movement and follow through to the next, and you'll hear palpable premonitions of the Elgar Concerto as well as some exquisite cello playing. Prior to an enjoyable (but, again, rather bullishly projected) set of Stücke im Volkston, we are offered an extremely fine reading of Schumann's sombre D minor Trio—a near-contender for 'best ever' status, running even its celebrated 1928 Casals/Thibaud/Cortot EMI predecessor (EMI References, 12/91) pretty close.
