Bert Bailey in answer to me: >> [...] - Carlos Prieto's cello is impressive... > >Indeed, it's the Piatti Stradivarius, and if I take your thrust I'd agree >that he's an artist of the highest stature. Indeed you do and I should have been more precise. (I look forward to your Sierra review). I first heard Carlos Prieto thanks to an Urtext recording called "Conciertos y Choro". Initially, it was the Guarnieri "Choro para violonchelo y orquesta" that had attracted me, but I was pleased to hear other works for cello - three, including a cello concerto, from Carlos Chavez with whom I was already familiar in my own small way, and a second cello concerto which proved to be quite an exciting introduction to the music of Federico Ibarra - it's a recording worth having, all told. Prieto's son, Carlos Miguel Prieto, is conducting the Orquesta de las Americas. Karl Miller: >While I was not overcome by his playing at that time, I was delighted >to know of his deep knowledge of and appreciation for the literature. >He was totally unpretentious, a complete gentleman and most gracious, >and to me, a rather noble sort of individual. While his technique was >not that of a Rostropovich, but then only a Yo Yo Ma is that good, his >interpretations conveyed to me a great respect and love for the music. Thank you for this more personal information. Strangely, through his recordings, his interpretations convey a similar impression, and certainly one of absolute dedication. They are most convincing. Nothing of what I have heard was recorded before 1998. If you met him before then, maybe I am right in thinking that Prieto has the maturing qualities of a good wine... if you will excuse the more mundane comparison... Regards, Christine Labroche