For listeners who have heard of but never heard cellist Jacqueline du Pré, this pair of discs could be an excellent introduction. Because while no one would deny the pre-eminence of her recordings of Dvorák and Elgar's Cello Concertos, in these sonatas by Brahms, Chopin, and Franck, du Pré's qualities as a player are most apparent. Lovingly supported by her husband and accompanist Daniel Barenboim, du Pré's performances here are more exposed and more intimate than her concerto performances. But because the music is still deeply Romantic, the music allows her plenty of latitude for passionate expression. In du Pré's performances, Brahms wears his heart on his sleeve, Chopin is deeply soulful and Franck is supremely sensual. While there are times when one hears the performer more than one hears the music being performed -- du Pré's slow movements are profoundly personal interpretations -- one is still completely convinced by the performances. EMI's digitally remastered stereo sound is rich and reverberant but with plenty of detail and atmosphere. ~ James Leonard, AMG

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