Rubinstein - Cello Sonata No. 1, Op. 18 (Urtext Edition)

Anton Rubinstein was a Russian pianist, composer, conductor, and founder of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. His Cello Sonata No. 1 in D major, Op. 18, is dedicated to the Belgian virtuoso cellist and composer François Servais. Although no record is known of Servais performing the sonata publicly, he may have played it privately. First published by Breitkopf und Härtel in 1855, the sonata was later revised by Rubinstein and issued again by the same publisher in 1882.

This edition is based on the revised 1882 publication, with the original 1855 edition carefully consulted. For the average listener, the differences between the two versions may be subtle, but they are significant enough to merit close comparison. All deviations from the original text are clearly marked in the score or described in the Critical Commentary. The piano part has also been edited to reduce unnecessary cross-staff notation in favor of more intuitive clef changes.

Well suited for lessons, recitals, and study of nineteenth-century sonata repertoire, Rubinstein’s Cello Sonata No. 1 offers cellists an opportunity to explore lyrical phrasing, Romantic expression, ensemble balance, formal structure, and the broad singing style associated with mid-nineteenth-century cello writing.

ASTA level: 3