Steven Isserlis, Stephen Hough - Children's Cello (2006) Hi-Res

What a lucky little boy Steven Isserlis's son must be. His father is a leading cellist in the world and is good friends with a leading pianist of the world (Stephen Hough).The aforesaid two musicians are well known as a splendid chamber music team! Obviously (evidenced by this album) the son (Gabriel) is surrounded by great music. Also evidenced by this album, Gabriel has a loving father that is very much concerned for his musical education. This album, (that is geared towards the young would be cellist) comprises short works that are played splendidly by Hough and Isserlis.(Hough as always is the sensative accompanist;he matches Isserlis's most beautiful tones spendidly. Isserlis does play with gorgeous tones throughout this disc--he exhibits some of the most beautiful cello tones I've ever heard!) Not only children can enjoy this album but old farts like me can enjoy it too--I enjoyed the album immensely! Although the works on a "Children's Cello" require only a short attention span, they are very beautiful and intriguing (the album is filled with some of the most gorgeous short peices for cello and piano that I've ever heard!).

I particularly liked the compositions by Stutchewsky (from his "Six Israeli Melodies") along with the composition by Amy Beach. Steven and Stephen both contributed delightful compositions of their own to the recording. Isserlis's composition, "The Haunted House" has the esteemed actor, Simon Callow as narrator.

Do buy this album for any potential young musician or, like me, buy the album just to enjoy some wonderful rather unknown short works for cello and piano (some arrangements such as Boccherini's "Minute' are included also included is Mendelssohn's "Song Without Word" Opus 109)