Dvorák, Antonín - Cello Concerto - Pré, Jacqueline du (cello)
Jacqueline du Pré, cello
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Charles Groves
Michael Krein Orchestra / Michael Krein
Recorded at Royal Albert Hall, London, 25 July 1969, and BBC Studios, 12 February 1962
Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987) needs no introduction to anyone interested in music. After early studies with William Pleeth and Paul Tortelier, she gained both the Gold Medal of the Guildhall School of Music and the Queens Prize at the age of 15. Aged 16, she made her debut at London's Wigmore Hall and then appeared in Berlin, Paris and Rotterdam as well as in concert at the Royal Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall. In 1965 she made her US debut at Carnegie Hall and in 1966, she was asked by Rostropovich to continue her studies with him in Moscow. In May 1967 she went to Israel with Daniel Barenboim, where during the Six Days War, they both gave concerts (with the Israel PO) to the troops and then got married in Jerusalem. From 1967 to 1972, they arranged their concerts and tours together to the US, Europe and in the UK. In 1973, Du Pré was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and had to give up her incredibly successful concert career at the age of 28. She started a new career teaching and holding masterclasses and was awarded an OBE in 1976. She died on 19th October 1987 aged 42.
This live recording of the Dvorák Cello Concerto from the Royal Albert Hall Proms on 25 July 1969 has taken several years of negotiation with the Du Pré Estate because both EMI's recording (with Barenboim) from 1970 and Deutsche Gramophon's issue 4 years ago of a live 1967 recording from Stockholm (with Celibidache) were still on the market. Daniel Barenboim originally felt that it was too soon for this release to be issued, although he recognised its special value in illustrating Jacqueline du Pré's exceptional artistry and personality.
This Proms performance gives us an insight into Du Pré playing live in front of an incredibly enthusiastic "home" audience. Elizabeth Wilson in her definitive biography of Jacqueline Du Pré said that this performance was a wonderful example of hearing her at her best, free and risk-taking.
The coupling of Ibert's short Concerto for Cello & Wind Instruments is a rarity, but more importantly, it is a new entry in Du Pré's discography as she never recorded it commercially. It was sourced from the British Library Sound Archive.