Great violin/violin and violin/cello duet recordings:
19. Duets for Two Violins, Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zuckerman
This is just a wonderful album. Highly recommended for those who love the violin.
20. Duets for violin/cello, Mozart, and Beethoven, Boris Abramov & Carmine Miranda, a bit too compressed but still nice
20. Viola - I used to be the first viola in an orchestra - everyone's least favorite instrument, but Harold in Italy by Berlioz is great (supposedly commisioned by Paganini):
20.1 Nobuko Imai, Sir Colin Davis & London Symphony Orchestra - my favorite
20.2 Gérard Caussé, John Eliot Gardiner & Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique - an odd version
20.3 Donald McInnes, Leonard Bernstein & Orchestre national de France, flamboyant |
I remember the David Oistrakh recording. It was on a small label classical company that I can't remember. They rereleased a number of Melodia (sp?) recordings.
In any case, it gave me goosebumps.
B |
Ranking of 1 or 2 - best-recorded violin masterworks in my humble opinion, the second part (TMI) - I was told to move this post here
10. Mendelssohn Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64
10.1 Viktoria Mullova, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields & Sir Neville Marriner
10.2 Anne-Sophie Mutter, Kurt Masur & Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
11. Aram Khachaturian, Concerto in D Minor
11.1 Itzhak Perlman, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra & Zubin Mehta
11.2 David Oistrakh, Philharmonia Orchestra
12. Mozart Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat Major for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, K. 364
12.1 David Oistrakh and Igor Oistrakh, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Kirill Kondrashin
12.2 Itzhak Perlman, Zubin Mehta & Pinchas Zukerman, Philharmonic Orchestra
13. Vivaldi Violin Concerto 1 in E Major, Four Seasons
13.1 Itzhak Perlman, Philharmonic Orchestra
13.2 Sarah Chang & Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
14. Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47
14.1 Jascha Heifetz, Walter Hendl & Chicago Symphony Orchestra
14.2 Midori, Zubin Mehta, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
15. Camille Saint-Saëns, Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 61
15.1 Itzhak Perlman, Daniel Barenboim & Orchestre de Paris
15.2 Gil Shaham, Giuseppe Sinopoli & New York Philharmonic
16. Max Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26
16.1 Sarah Chang, Philharmonie, Kurt Masur
16.2 Rachel Barton Pine, BBC Symphony Orchestra & Andrew Litton
16.3 Joshua Bell, Sir Neville Marriner & Academy of St. Martin in the Fields;
17. Samuel Barber: Violin Concerto, op. 14
17.1 Hilary Hahn, Hugh Wolff, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
17.2 Gil Shaham, André Previn & London Symphony Orchestra
18. Dvorak Violin Concerto A Minor, Op. 53
18.1 Julia Fischer, Zinman, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
18.2 Anne-Sophie Mutter, Manfred Honeck & Berlin Philharmonic
More to follow, unless no one cares. Kind regards - Gerry |
Great list Gerry !
If i had only one violin concerto to keep on the proverbial desert island , It would be the Elgar with Menuhin/Boult in mono or the later stereo .
Another very fine recording of the Elgar is Kang/Polish National Orch. on Naxos .
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Ranking of 1 or 2 - best-recorded violin masterworks in my humble opinion, the first part (TMI) - I was told to move this post here
Folks-
I come from a different era, so this list is biased, and I have to correct what I may have posted earlier because I finally have a system that is amazing and can render PCM Redbook as DSD or DXD (dcs SACD/CD player ---> Audio Research GSPre ---> Audio Research GS150 ---> Wilson Audio WattPuppy 7). What is odd is that it corresponds what I loved most when I was a violin student at New England Conservatory / Berklee.
1. Brahms Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77:
1.1. David Oistrakh, Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell;
1.2 Hilary Hahn, Academy of St. Martins in the Filed, Sir Neville Mariner (SCAD or High Resolution) tied with Itzhak Perlman, Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Carlo Maria Giulini;
2. Brahms Double Concerto for Violin & Cello in A Minor:
2.1 Cleveland Orchestra, David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich & George Szell;
2.2 Mstislav Rostropovich, Itzhak Perlman, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & Bernard Haitink;
3. Beethoven Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61:
3.1 Itzhak Perlman, Maria Giulini, & Philharmonia Orchestra;
3.2 Heifetz & Charles Münch;
4. Bach Violin Concerto in D Minor (after Harpsichord Concerto, BWV 1052):
4.1 Itzhak Perlman & Israel Philharmonic Orchestra - III. Allegro is one of the most amazing I have ever heard if you like baroque. Just astonishing, it sounds like he is breathing the music.
5. Bach Concerto for 2 Violins, Strings, and Continuo in D minor:
5.1 Akiko Suwanai, Chamber Orchestra of Europe & Volkhard Steude;
6.Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major;
6.1 Leonid Kogan, Philharmonia Orchestra & Kirill Kondrashin (if you can find the recording with the Orchestre de Paris it is incredible - best rendition in my opinion, I bet he is playing one of his Guarneri Gesù violins - just incredible sound;
6.2 Michael Tilson Thomas, Joshua Bell & Berlin Philharmonic - Phenomenal recording!;
7. Mozart Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K. 211; Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, K. 207; Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219;
7.1 Anne-Sophie Mutter & London Philharmonic Orchestra;
7.2 Arthur Grumiaux, Sir Colin Davis & London Symphony Orchestra;
8. Niccolò Paganini: 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Opus1;
8.1 Michael Rabin;
8.2 Ruggiero Ricci;
9. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin
9.1 Nathan Milstein (1975);
9.2 Henryk Szeryng.
Thank-you - Gerry
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I see Audite has Jacquline Du Pre playing the Cello Concerto.
Geza Anda, too.
I never heard of this label before.
B |
+1 for the Randall Thompson # 2 , a lovely piece that used to get some play back in the 50's-60's . I'll look for the Chandos 9439 newbee,
thanks .
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schubert,
i don’t know if it’s sold in a set yet. I bought the Schumann symphonies on three separate discs, with the cello concerto as filler. |
A couple of recording that I think worth mentioning in case someone is looking for something rarely heard but in both cases are very accessible neo-romantic music typically released by Chandos. I'm glad to have them in my collection.
Symphony #2 by Randall Thompson (and other works by George Chadwick) Neeme Jarvi and the Detroit SO. Beautiful American symphonic music all. Chandos 9439.
Kara Karayev - various symphonic works - highly influenced (I think) by the major Russian composers of the late 19th and early 20th century very engaging and very Russian. Chandos 5203.
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Well, that's me all right. I'll be on that !
Heinz Holliger was the greatest player , on any instrument , I have ever seen live .
The best Schumann symphony I ever heard live was the "Rhenish"
with Masur / Gewandhaus at home base .
I never thought the DG set with Gardiner/ORR would ever be surpassed
but would be glad to be wrong .
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For Schumann lovers out there, there’s a remarkable set of his symphonies on the Audite label, with the great oboist Heinz Holliger as conductor.
i have many versions of the symphonies but this is, by far, the best, musically and sonically. Highly recommended! |
I also attended several sessions of the inaugural Ivo Pogorelich Piano Competition in Pasadena, California some 20 years or so ago. I actually got to meet him there, shook his hand and had him sign a commemorative poster of the event, which now sits framed on a wall where I live. He was quite pleasant. The competition attracted many outstanding pianists from all around the globe. I'm uncertain as to whether there was another competition subsequent to that one.
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jcazador and rvpiano,
I saw Pogorelich twice. The first time he played the Prokofiev PC #3. He made the piece look ridiculously easy and looked bored as he walked onstage and as he left. He played the piece with consummate authority.
The second time was a recital that included the Don Juan Fantasy. It was stunning to say the least. He is a remarkable musician who definitely goes his own way. Among other recordings of his that I enjoy are his Beethoven Op. 111, Bach, Prokofiev and Chopin Etudes. All these recordings are on DG.
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Wow! Try McEwen's symphonic works on Chandos, including Solway symphony. This remarkably recorded CD will really give your system a full work-out. |
Sokolov story
He plays all over the world, except in UK.
When he tried to get a visa to play in London, they required eye scans.
He told them that reminded him too much of USSR, and refused. He was born in Leningrad, USSR, which became St Petersburg, Russia (as it had been before USSR). So he knows.
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Now watching/listening to
Grigory Sokolov plays Schubert, Beethoven, Rameau and Brahms – Recital at the Berliner Philharmonie, 2013
I am stunned at Sokolov's pure musicianship. No show, all go. His technique is so incredible, it seems to make room for more rhythmic nuance than I have ever heard. I have been listening to him for some years, but never saw a video of his performance before this. Remarkable how he mouths the music. Description here: http://facesofclassicalmusic.blogspot.com/2015/10/grigory-sokolov-plays-schubert.html |
Here's another name, Andrew Manze, to add to Andreas Staier, Rachel Podger, etc., as a great modern musician. Both as a performer and a conductor, there hasn't been a disc of his that I haven't liked. (We can't always stay wrapped up in Walter and Dorati.) And while I think of it, another Andrew, Lawrence-King, with another across-the-board recommendation, though his Spanish Dances CD is very special. |
FLAC:
- Stravinsky; Le Sacre du Printemps, Nezet-Seguin/Philadelpia/DGG 24/96 hi-res
Vinyl:
- Stravinsky; Le Sacre du Printemps, Stravinsky/Columbia Symphony/Columbia Grey two-eye (1967?) pressing
- Bartok; Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta/Concerto for Two Pianos and Percussion, Bernstein/New York Philharmonic/Columbia
- Bartok; Concerto for Orchestra, Reiner/Chicago/RCA
- Bach; Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, Szeryng/DGG
- Shostakovich; Symphony No. 8, Previn/London/Angel
- Stravinsky, L'Histoire du Soldat, Stravinsky/Columbia Ensemble/Columbia
Prokofiev; Lt. Kije, Szell/Cleveland/Columbia
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Yes, Pogorelich is a great individualist.
I saw him in his debut Carnegie Hall recital over twenty years ago.
He showed utter disdain for the audience, never cracking a smile and barely acknowledging the presence of the audience.
But, what a pianist!
I know he stopped playing after his piano teacher/wife died, I believe in ‘97.
I didn’t realize he resumed his career until I just read it.
He’s in the cut of Glenn Gould (one of my two favorite pianists, the other being Horowitz) in that he re-interprets a piece without regard for conventional performance. I much admire that. An original thinker.
As far as favorite pianists, there’s also Rachmaninoff — but he’s a god! |
kef lover
Pogorelich, YES!
I have his "complete recording on DG" 14 cds
He gives me faith that the tradition is going forward
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Yes it was!
But I didn’t ge any because I left early!
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rvpiano,
Was that the night Wanda brought coffee for the fans waiting in line? |
Many years ago!
Interesting story: The night of the Ashkenazy performance, my friends and I went outside of Carnegie and waited all night for Horowitz tickets to be sold in one of his first return concerts from his sabbatical.)
(Actually, truth be told, I didn’t wait all night; my friends did and bought me tickets.) |
rvpiano,
Wish I could have been there for that Prokofiev 2nd with Ashkenazy!!! |
Just one , but from and by two of the most neglected and underplayed Greats at this time in USA .
Imogen Cooper plays Schumann /Chandros
"Davidsbundler",Abegg Variations" , Novelletten" and "Geistervariotionen "
Sublime .
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My 2 cents worth on piano recordings:
Arrau Beethoven Waldstein sonata Philips
Richter Liszt Concertos Philips
Eschenbach Mozart Sonatas DG
Horowitz Rach sonata #2, Chopin Polonaise- Fantasie, Etudes Op. 10, #3, 4 and 12, Scriabin
Cortot Chopin
Rubinstein Chopin Nocturnes
Ashkenazy Prokofiev Con. #1, 2 Previn
Pogorelich Ravel Gaspard DG
Zimerman Chopin Concertos Giulini DG
Gould Bach
Fleisher Szell Beethoven Concertos
Kempff Mozart Con. #23, 24 DG
Brendel Mozart Con. #25 Philips
Gilels Mozart Con. #27 DG
Bernstein Shostakovich Con. #2 Columbia
Janis Prokofiev Con. #3, Rach Con. #3 Mercury
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Another great, great Wagner CD is the Solti Das Rheingold on Decca Heritage Masters label. Thus performance is from 1958, in extremely good Stereo sound, at Vienna, with London and Flagstad, and predates the more famous Solti Ring extravaganza just a bit.
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schubert,
I got the Sarasate music for violin and orchestra.
I’ll have to look for the duos. |
I saw Richter in one of his series of Carnegie recitals, and as much as I think he’s one of the greatest pianists who ever lived, I was unfortunately disappointed.
Most of the problem was my seat, which was under an overhang in the Family Circle. Despite the hall’s renowned acoustics, I could hardly hear him. Very disappointing.
I’m aware of his travels through the USSR, playing on inferior pianos in heroic fashion. |
rvpiano
Yes I saw Ashkenazy in local high school auditorium, nice big auditorium, with a stage, not a cafeteria.
In those days he was not allowed to travel freely outside USSR.
So programs existed that sponsored a series of recitals, and USSR cooperated with some such programs. That is how Ashkenazy got here.
Later he negotiated a deal so he could live in Iceland, then he became a citizen there, and eventually as USSR loosened up more, he moved to Switzerland. Iceland seems "out of it", but in fact it was a sound choice for him, it is a short flight to many of the finest concert halls of Europe.
Richter was not allowed to travel to USA until 1960. He wrote that his greatest pleasure was cruising eastern Europe in a car (with Yamaha van, piano and Techs close behind), and holding recitals in obscure town churches on the spur of the moment.
Unfortunately I missed Richter's Carnegie Hall debut. My aunt was a graduate student at Julliard, but she could not get tickets.
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rv, I assume you got the box with the duos, I have them coming .
I have the 4 CD Sarasate for Violin and Orchestra .
First time she did a war horse I had to play it 3 times just to get a handle
(i hope) on her playing . Got a Julia Fischer out on same piece.
I’d say they are equal , just different , which is saying a lot !
FWIW , to me, Tianwa is a chamber musician who also plays with Orchestra AND listens to it !
AND , never misses a beat .
t
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Schubert,
I just got the Sarasate set (4 CDs!).
Youre right, Tianwa Yang is quite the violinist!
I’m surprised she’s not better known.
btw, In an earlier post, you mentioned that you saw Ashkenazy in a high school auditorium. That’s where I first saw him as well. Strange he would give performances in that venue. He was already known by then. Saw him also at Carnegie in a stupendous performance of Prokofiev’s 2nd Piano Concerto.
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You betcha! EMI label. Printed in Germany. 3 CD box set.
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Wagner’s Lohengrin, Kempe and Vienna Philharmonic, from 1964. Super duper.
Is this on Cd? |
jcazador,
Thanks for that article on Debussy. Very informative, though it cut off in the middle for me.
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New book on Debussy reviewed: "
He came out of nothing, and the eruption of his genius is a complete
mystery. There was no musical tradition in his very ordinary family.
Within two years of starting to play the piano he was admitted to the
Conservatoire; and two years after that, aged 12, he was being given
prizes for his performance of a Chopin concerto. Almost from the start,
his own music was exquisitely formed, and even the earliest of the songs
and piano pieces give a lot of pleasure.
" . . . "
Walsh’s biography deliberately focuses on the music rather than the
life. Debussy was perhaps not a very likeable person, so this approach
serves to remind us what we most admire about him. Mary Garden, the
first Mélisande, said that he was a ‘very strange’ man; and it does
sometimes appear as if he had no real sympathy for, or interest in,
other people." https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/02/debussy-the-musical-genius-who-erupted-out-of-nowhere/ |
Wagner’s Lohengrin, Kempe and Vienna Philharmonic, from 1964. Super duper.
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FTM The Andreas Staier 10 cd torrent hash I used is: e389b4a3189aaa6605b61a7930079a3d786abc81 google it, you will fink free links to download
It is 3.35 GB, excellent quality
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twoleftears
I downloaded a 10 cd collection of Staier last night, listening to it now, Scarlotti and Bach so far, harpsichord.
Excellent, thanks.
Another story?
This one was told by Edward Said, famous Columbia professor who rewrote the meaning of literary criticism, and then was drawn into advocacy for Palestinians, and throughout was the nyt critic of piano recitals/concerts in nyc, and yes he played classical piano, tho I never heard him.
Anyway, story goes
Saint Saens won some piano competition in Paris as a child, and was given a visit to Wagner in Germany. This was horse and buggy days, no trains from Paris to Germany in those days. So he arrived at Wagner's and was greeted by both Wagner and Liszt, (they were buddies, hung out together, Wagner married Liszt's daughter). St Saens sits down at the piano, and there is an orchestra score of Tannhauser Overture, which Wagner was working on. As you probably know, that is one of the most complex orchestra scores ever written. St Saens sight-transposes it to piano and plays it through.
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If you enjoy Chopin and Liszt piano concertos (as I do), check out John Field. There are a couple of recordings, both good. Also, get his Nocturnes. I like John O'Conor's recordings on Telarc. Enough to buy also, back in the day, the set of Beethoven sonatas. Good balance of performance and recording quality. |
In the past I have quite often collected Cds of Wagner which contain his mastepieces or highlights. One such Cd (an old one) is called 'The Classical Collection' by Orbis De AGostini Group, this cd is special, not so much because of the technical sound or any interpretations of the music, its special because of the choice of music. It has masterpieces from Lohengrin, Tanhauser, The Mastersingers of Nuremberg and The Flying Dutchman but the unusual inclusion is the choir of the Pilgrims' Chorus (Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir Ljubijana Conductor Marko Munh). To hear this chorus is so moving to me and the way Wagner has added the orchestration at the latter part of this music is nothing but sheer magic. It does not surprise me that Prince Ludwig of Bavaria became obsessed with Wagner's music and even built a Wagnerian Castle to live the dream...
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Jcaazodor ,
What a lovely description of Arrau ! As well done as can be done .
He played an all Brahms program one time I saw him .
I swear, and not as a figure of speech , one could feel Brahms in the hall .
If you haven’t already try Perahia's Bach "French Suites" .
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@jcazador,
Nice post. I hope it is true.
To All,
I subscribe to Spotify and despite its' lack of high fidelity streaming, it has one of the most complete and easily accessible catalogs (unlike Tidal).
I only mention this as I have discovered a huge cache of recordings of the early/mid romantic period from Naxos (mostly). I only thought Hummel was famous for his Trumpet Concerto, but now find he composed a lot of great music-including piano concertos.
The nice thing about Spotify catalog is that it has 'Related Artists'.
Click on that and you get similar composers-Ries, Witt, Flotow, Wilms, etc.
I never heard of these composers before, and I feel I have discovered another facet of classical music.
Sorry if I am saying something you all know, but listening to composers who were famous in their time, yet now almost forgotten, is very exciting.
B |
schubert
lucky you, seeing all those great pianists live
the only one i ever saw was ashkenazy, in a local high school auditorium, back in the days when it was difficult for him to leave USSR
I do appreciate Murray Perahia, especially his Mozart sonatas
and I share your love for Arrau, the consummate master, the total package of dignity, precision and passion held just under the surface - and the inspiration for Argerich as well
twoleftears
i will have to give Staier a listen, thanks
as for Bach, I happen to be listening to Richter playing Well Tempered Clavier at this moment
another favorite for Bach is Maria Yudina, and I will repeat a story about her that may not be true
once she played a radio concert that Stalin heard, it was a live broadcast, not recorded, and Stalin thought it was a recording and liked it so much, he ordered the recording delivered to him immediately
so the KGB went out and got Yudina and took her to a studio and made a recording of her previous recital for Stalin.
She hated stalin, whenever she received a medal, she gave it to the families of people Stalin/KGB had killed
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+1 to pianist recommendations. I also like Vladimir Ashkenazy. For earlier keyboard, Andreas Staier is really hard to beat. Top choice for me.
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People tend to drag their feet when penalty is death .
jcazador, Great list!, I saw 7 of them alive , Arrau moved me the most, but that’s just me .
The one that seems to be missing IMO is Murray Perahia .
He and Hewitt are my go-to’s on Bach .
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It took them long enough. |
