Making a name for himself

Dmitri Shostokovich took the first letter of his first name and the first three of his second and made something of a name for himself. In German musical notation D, Es, C, H (or DSCH) represent D, Eb, C, B in our anglicised terminology and this four note motif appears throughout Shostokovich's work, including his first cello concerto, considered to be one of
the most difficult cello pieces in the repertoire. It, like the second, was written for Shostokovich's friend the great cellist, Rostropovich who premiered the piece in the Soviet Union in 1959, having committed it to memory in just four days.

My recording choice is Shostokovich's son, Maxim, conducting the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra with soloist, Heinrich Schiff (421 526-2PH). Another Decca legendary recording - Just under ten quid from Amazon.