Dvorák ; Cellokonzert ; Tsjaikovski Rokoko-Variationen (1969)

'Of the many recordings of this concerto featuring Mstislav Rostropovich as the soloist, this one, from 1969, is the best. Indeed, it ranks with certainty among the greatest readings of the piece ever. It is a performance of heroic size and intensity, notable for the soloists expressive range and awe-inspiring command of his instrument. Karajan sculpts an extraordinarily powerful, polished accompaniment from a Berlin Philharmonic at the peak of its powers. The recording has the hot analog sound typical of DG in these years bright, a little light in the bass, but with good detail and reasonably clean textures'. (Ted Libbey, auteur van The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection).