I’ve had the pleasure of seeing cellist Mischa Maisky live, both in concert and in a masterclass. As a performer, I think he is larger than life: showing a hairy chest and extensive jewelry, along with wild, by now grey hair. Not someone you’ll likely mistake for anybody else.
Then there is his playing style. His heavy use of vibrato, even where it is not appropriate, his many times over the top romanticism, it has all been widely criticized. Most people also agree however: Maisky delivers. Maybe it is a bit like Glen Gould: you are listening to a version of the composition, heavily changed by the musician. And no matter how much I maintain a work should be performed as the composer or history demands, I still like it.
This recording is no exception, and comes with my recommendation. Looking at the average price on Discogs, so do other people think.