Steven Isserlis, Dénes Várjon - Schumann: Music for Cello and Piano (2009)

While Schumann left his beloved cellists with relatively few original pieces composed just for them, many of his works (including some within his lifetime) have been taken up by cellists as their own. This Hyperion album offers listeners the best of both these worlds: those originally for cello (the Three Romances and Stücke im Volkston), those transcribed within his lifetime (Fantasiestücke, Adagio & Allegro, and Abendlied), and a new transcription of the storied Third Violin Sonata by cellist Steven Isserlis. Joined by pianist Dénes Várjon, Isserlis provides one of the most stunningly energetic, passionate, and enthralling renditions of these works in recent memory. While some of these works can get a little pedantic and stodgy, there is not so much of a hint of complacency or laxity. His arrangement of the difficult Third Violin Sonata is not only well-written, but amazingly convincing as a work for cello. Isserlis's sound on his two different Stradivari cellos is clear and penetrating while still nicely rounded and rich. Várjon provides a rock-solid accompaniment, staying out of the way for the cello's sound while still confidently asserting himself at appropriate moments. Worth buying for the Violin Sonata on its own, the album as a whole will make an indispensible addition to almost any collection.