My friend and I went to see the Shostakovich, and I was overwhelmed. Never had I seen a concerto for solo instrument performed by a world-class performer backed by a world-class orchestra. I watched in awe as Rostropovich did things with a the cello that I had no idea could be done. I remember saying to someone afterwards, "He played on two strings at once," which I later learned watching my daughter take violin lessons, was called "double stops." Rostropovich played so dramatically that I sat on the edge of the chair during the whole piece. This was in 1974, before, I think, Rostropovich defected from the Soviet Union, and during the midst of the Cold War. Before this, I had not heard any modern Soviet music, and had heard it was all dull socialist realist crap. But this music was dynamic and alive.

One of the movements-forgive me I couldn't find a recording of it for today so I cannot say which-has a dramatic, galloping rhythm that carries you along. After the concert, I asked my friend Eric Tollar what he thought of the concerto. He immediately repeated this rhythm, making fun of it as if it were out of a Hollywood action movie-like when the cavalry charges in to rescue the day. I was dumbfounded, for he had pretty impeccable tastes in music, and I couldn't understand how he could have remained unmoved by this piece.

Researching this piece tonight, I discovered that there are two concertos for cello. I'm not sure which one I heard, so the recording I'm linking to has both of them. It was hard finding RealAudio or MIDI clips of Shostakovich since most of his stuff is still under copyright protection. When I get more information I will post it.

Shostakovich Biography

MPG File on ablum(scroll down)

Recording

Enjoy

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