Beethoven: Violin Concerto / Romances Nos. 1 & 2

Beethoven: Violin Concerto / Romances Nos. 1 & 2

Beethoven: Violin Concerto / Romances Nos. 1 & 2
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CD Details

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Conductor: Mstislav Rostropovich
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
Performer: Maxim Vengerov
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2006-01-10
Music Label: EMI Classics
Soundtracks:
  1. I Allegro Ma Non Troppo
  2. II Largetto
  3. III Rondo, Allegro
  4. Romance No.1 In G Op.40
  5. Romance No.2 In F Op.50

Music reviews of Beethoven: Violin Concerto / Romances Nos. 1 & 2

Music Review: Reverent? Yes. Exalting? Sadly, no.
Rating: 2 Stars

I had high hopes for this one. Maxim Vengerov is perhaps the finest violinist of his generation; he is certainly among the finest of musicians. I watched his master class on Ovation, and his coaching of students through Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Ysaye made clear his depth of feeling for, and his understanding of, the music (also clear: his charm, his graciousness, his love of teaching). I respect and enjoy his recordings of the Brahms, the Tchaikovsky, the Bruch concertos, and others.

But this one's disappointing; it's a performance that I think Mr. Vengerov will come to regret. It's note-perfect; it's also dull. The world doesn't need another ponderous and reverent Beethoven Concerto. We want one that gives it life, that thrills us. Even the third movement - the rondo that should dance - is plodding. The largo, that should be exalting, is simply tiresome. The first movement, that should draw us into the music and hold us, exemplifies why so many dislike classical music; sitting through it feels like enduring a solemn duty.

The finest performance I know is this one (Doremi 7727):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004X0NJ/qid=1139635782/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-3273165-0151249?s=classical&v=glance&n=5174

It's a 1945 broadcast by Jascha Heifetz with Artur Rodzinski and the NYPhSO (New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the predecessor of today's NYSO).

In my opinion it is the definitive recorded performance. Swiftly paced but heartfelt, played with a passion, an intensity and a profound understanding of the musical line that isn't approached by today's stars of the fiddle (nor even by Heifetz himself with Reiner for RCA). I listen to it often, and when I do I'm convinced it's the performance Beethoven heard in his mind, in his heart.

My thanks to Jacob Harnoy for issuing this unsurpassed performance and for achieving audio quality that makes it not just a listenable historic recording but a highly enjoyable one. I think it's a must-hear performance for all who love this work. (Another transfer I own - by Music & Arts - is thin and scratchy; this transfer by Doremi is full and rich.)

For those who find Heifetz too fleet (and if you think so, I think you're wrong!), try performances by Adolf Busch/Fritz Busch, Ginette Niveau/Hans Rosbaud, Yehudi Menuhin/Wilhelm Furtwangler, David Oistrach/Sixten Ehrling, Ida Haendel/Rafael Kubelik - performances that today's prodigies can only hope to grow to understand and equal. Or even try Fritz Kreisler/Leo Blech; it was Kreisler who begat the now-accepted modern tradition of performing the Beethoven reverently (i.e. slowly). But he carried it off, and did so compellingly!

And I can't close without commending another broadcast performance: Bronislav Huberman/Leo Barzin - an extraordinary performance by an extraordinary man. (All of these are available from Amazon.)
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