Méditation / Mischa Maisky (cello), Pavel Gililov (piano)

"The cello lends itself particularly well to the slower, more romantic type of encore piece. And as indeed Maisky proves himself a superlative exponent of exactly this type, few will quarrel with the decision to fill a whole CD with such pieces. Not by any means was all the music written for solo cello in the first place: but in every case it is impossible to believe the composer could feel affronted by the change of timbre. The Chopin B minor piano prelude, for example: could even Chopin claim this to be a piano tune, ruined by transfer to the cello? Nor could Faure, surely, not think this a viable alternative version of Apres un reve? If advocacy of the point is needed, Maisky must surely prove his own best advocate; especially when helped along, as here he is, by the best of accompanying and the best of recording. In its field, a total winner." (Gramophone)