Partnered by the distinguished pianism of Pavel Gililov, Maisky’s intimacy with Strauss’s and Dvorák’s pieces for cello and piano is the fruit of years of playing and loving these sublime compositions. Maisky’s masterly bowing caresses soulful tone out of his 18th century Montagnana cello. Even in thrall to violent emotion, master cellist Maisky oversees his music making from an altitude of heavenly serenity. Classic FM’s description of Maisky as “one of the world’s leading cellists” qualifies as understatement of the year!

This repertoire is entirely new to the DG catalogue and represents different facets of Mischa’s extraordinary career. These works have accompanied him all over the world and feature regularly in his concert programmes. On 10 January 2008 Mischa Maisky celebrated his 60th birthday, the start of a year that also marks the 25th anniversary of his partnership with Deutsche Grammophon.