The recorded legacy of Daniil Shafran (1923-97) is huge, appearing during the Soviet era on the Melodiya label, though it’s still under-represented on CD. Cello Classics (a specialist UK independent label managed by the London Mozart Players’ principal cellist Sebastian Comberti) has sourced three rare masters for this collection, which begins with a live 1961 Moscow Conservatory performance of Prokofiev’s Sinfonia concertante, under the direction of Gennady Rozhdestvensky. The transfer is marred by inevitable tape hiss and extraneous noise, and the dynamic range is understandably somewhat limited. However, solo lines emerge with adequate clarity and presence, even if some internal orchestral detailing fails to register. Most importantly, Shafran’s account is gripping, and his concentration and tonal refinement never waver. In particular, the central allegro, taken very rapidly indeed, attests to the phenomenal and flawless virtuosity for which Shafran was famed.
His 1967 Leningrad recording of Kabalevsky’s Cello Concerto No. 2 is slightly less successful, having uncomfortably close orchestral perspectives. But again, Shafran’s playing is riveting; little wonder that the composer (who conducts here) reportedly exclaimed during the sessions, “It’s wonderful! Magnificent! I don’t recognize my own music!” Although Sulkhan Tsintsadze’s Five Pieces on Folk Themes (1952) provide attractive make-weights, there’s much more interesting Shafran material than this that’s also long overdue for revival. For example, Cello Classics might consider Shafran’s 1949 version of Davidov’s Concerto No. 2, briefly available on Russian-Disc. Meantime, this present offering couldn’t be more welcome.
