Jacqueline du Pré - Fauré Elégie in C minor Op. 24

We're not related. At least, if we are it's from somewhere back in the Middle Ages. But she's my absolute favorite cellist, and this is my favorite piece of hers. She's so expressive and her performances have so much color and texture. She was criticized by the Stodgies back in her day for being "too emotional" and "undignified" because of the way she flung her hair about and let her whole self become part of the music. People of that mindset which only values technique and power and which, to my taste, results in rather ugly music. Probably had something to do with sex: one generation or so removed from a time when the fashion was to prefer castrati to actual women singing. I personally prefer a woman's touch on the strings.

Her story has rather a sad ending: she contracted MS and had to stop playing at only 28, and died at 42.