The virtue of Popper's etudes lies in concentrating on one or two technical difficulties per etude, rather than combining all imaginable techniques into multi-page pieces.
Composer Biography
Popper held prestigious positions, including principal cellist of the Vienna Court Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and was a member of the Hellmesberger Quartet.
Performer Biography
Martin Rummel was the last pupil of William Pleeth, a renowned cello pedagogue, and is himself a respected pedagogue who gives masterclasses worldwide.
Composer Biography
David Popper, born in Prague in 1843, was a world-famous cellist and is considered one of the most outstanding cellists of all time.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Unlike Chopin's etudes, Popper's 40 etudes are practically unsuitable for concert use and were intentionally written to be as complicated or uncomfortable as possible to challenge the player.
Composition History
Popper's 'High School of Cello Playing, Op. 73' consists of 40 etudes written between 1901 and 1905, designed to address the new demands of Romantic repertoire and improve playing technique.
Performer Biography
Martin Rummel, the cellist on this recording, has an unparalleled recording career for his generation, appearing on over 40 albums, including the complete cello concertos of Andrea Zani.
