Prokofiev, Shostakovich: Violin Concertos no 1 / Rostropovich, Vengerov

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
With his brilliant tone, flawlessly centered intonation, jaw-dropping technique, and exquisitely beautiful phrasing, Maxim Vengerov is ideal in this repertory. His sparkling account of the Prokofiev conveys the music's mercurial shifts of color and mood with great élan, and turns wonderfully evocative in the ethereal pages. The interpretation of the Shostakovich is equally fine--strongly characterized and imaginative, haunting in its beauty. The young soloist is ably partnered by Mstislav Rostropovich, who draws some remarkably fine and suggestive playing out of an alert London Symphony Orchestra, and makes a convincing whole out of each score. Teldec's engineers take advantage of the Abbey Road venue to deliver a recording that, while predictably balanced in favor of the soloist, is detailed and nicely atmospheric. This disc won Gramophone magazine's Record of the Year award in 1995, and it comes impressively close to capturing the kind of electricity Vengerov generates onstage. --Ted Libbey

Prokofiev, Shostakovich: Violin Concertos no 1 / Rostropovich, Vengerov, Music, Sergey Prokofiev, Dmitry Shostakovich, Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Vengerov, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Concerto, Violin Concerto

Average customer rating:

New favorite recording of Shostakovich

Excellent playing, stunning engineering

Just...beautiful

old cowgirl

The Perfect Marriage of Composers, Soloist, and Conductor

Prokofiev, Shostakovich: Violin Concertos no 1 / Rostropovich, Vengerov

Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
Vengerov, Maxim | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Shostakovich | Shostakovich, Dmitri | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Prokofiev & Shostakovich: Violin Concertos, No.2

Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No1, Op107; Violin Concerto No1 (revised), Op99

Brahms: Violin Concerto; Sonata No. 3

Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky / Karajan, Rostropovich,

Shostakovich: The String Quartets

ASIN: B000000SLM
Release Date: 1994-11-08

Tracks:

Violin Concerto No. 1 In D Major, Op. 19: Andantino
Violin Concerto No. 1 In D Major, Op. 19: Scherzo: Vivacissimo
Violin Concerto No. 1 In D Major, Op. 19: Moderato
Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor: Nocturne: Moderato
Violin Concerto in A minor: Scherzo: Allegro
Violin Concerto in A minor: Passacaglia: Andante
Violin Concerto: Burlesque: Allegro con brio

Amazon.com essential recording

With his brilliant tone, flawlessly centered intonation, jaw-dropping technique, and exquisitely beautiful phrasing, Maxim Vengerov is ideal in this repertory. His sparkling account of the Prokofiev conveys the music's mercurial shifts of color and mood with great élan, and turns wonderfully evocative in the ethereal pages. The interpretation of the Shostakovich is equally fine--strongly characterized and imaginative, haunting in its beauty. The young soloist is ably partnered by Mstislav Rostropovich, who draws some remarkably fine and suggestive playing out of an alert London Symphony Orchestra, and makes a convincing whole out of each score. Teldec's engineers take advantage of the Abbey Road venue to deliver a recording that, while predictably balanced in favor of the soloist, is detailed and nicely atmospheric. This disc won Gramophone magazine's Record of the Year award in 1995, and it comes impressively close to capturing the kind of electricity Vengerov generates onstage. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

New favorite recording of Shostakovich.......2007-06-22

I had not heard more than a few of Vengerov's performances and master classes (on YouTube) prior to hearing this disc - he is a remarkable individual and a thinking musician, and this recording of the Prokofiev 1 and Shostakovich 1 really proves that. Although I've heard plenty of good performances of both, these stand out. The review below is 100% correct - Vengerov "really gets it" - and he was a mere 19 or 20 years old when this disc was first released in 1994. He understands these pieces and his readings of them are very welcome. The second part of the first movement of the Prokofiev is often played 'Allegro Moderato' or 'Allegro non Troppo'. Vengerov plays it at the indicated tempo, 'Moderato', and not rushed. The accents and tenutos are perfectly done. He does some great things in the 'Scherzo', especially the slides on the G string! Although I like Lydia Mordkovitch's recording of the Shostakovich with Jarvi equally well (and that disc is also superbly engineered), Vengerov's is filled with great things. And how lucky he was to record it with the composer's close friend and musical collaborator, Rostropovich. If you've become partial to other recordings of these two concertos, listen to this disc and you may very well change your mind.

Excellent playing, stunning engineering.......2006-09-27

This recording pairs a fairly unfamiliar but highly acessible concerto from Prokofiev's younger days with a dark, biting, yet heartbreaking concerto from a difficult time in the difficult life of Shostakovich.

The Prokofiev is highly sensitive and lyrical and technically solid. The London Symphony is at its best here, under the baton of Rostropovich who personally associated with both Prokofeiv and Shostakovich.

I must admit to owning about 10 recordings of the first Shostakovich concerto. This collection includes performances by Perlman, Oistrakh (twice), Hahn, Sarah Chang, and Mullova. I have heard live performances by Caitlin Tully and Vadim Repin.

Out of all of these soloists, three or four stand out as really "getting it." Oistrakh's recordings are essentially definitive, but the orchestra's sound is less-than-ideal in these aging recordings. Among the newer recordings and performances, Repin and Vengerov strike me as more emotionally attached, while Mullova smooths out some of the rough edges the men have in their sound, but unfortunately her slow movements are not slow or emotional enough for me.

The orcehstra is once again ideal. Details are very finely crafted unlike in other lesser recordings. Vengerov's playing is spectacular and takes after Oistrakhs in character and sound.

Just...beautiful.......2006-09-01

Let me start off by saying...I'm no classical expert - I don't spend my days listening to different versions of the same piece played by different composers, solists, etc...

What I have seen in this is utter virtuosity from Vengerov... he can simply evoke any tone that he likes out of his violin. There's never a passage of doubt; vengerov makes his violin sing the melodies and plays with so much expression!

I prefer the Prokofiev piece, mainly because it seems to be more "concentrated" and less drawn out. It's always moving, rushing, flowing in a "contemporary" classical manner. I can agree with other reviewers stating this piece may just be the most beautiful piece of violin literature ever written.

The Shostakovich is more introverted and reflective; sometimes it is slow at places. Reading the liner notes (something all should do, IMHO) revealed the purposed for this - a tribute to the victims of the harrowing purges under Stalin. I also read that this piece was prohibited by Stalin for release - it was not until the death of Stalin that the piece was performed. Such adds to the harrowing, haunting melodies of the piece.

Like I said, I'm no classical expert, so I couldn't tell you how Rostropovich does as a conductor. As an "average Joe," this CD sounds marvelous to me!

old cowgirl.......2006-08-15

For the connoisseur of Prokofiev this is beautifully interpreted. Vengerov obviously loves what he does.

The Perfect Marriage of Composers, Soloist, and Conductor.......2005-08-16

It would be difficult to imagine a more perfect match for these two concerti than Maxim Vengerov and Mstislav Rostropovich. Not only do the two innately understand the shared Russian spirit inherent in Prokofiev's and Shostakovich's music, they also happen to be superb musicians who can make these two concerti appear simple to the ear when they require such an enormous degree of dexterity.

The phrasing and thematic exploration by Vengerov is astonishingly right and in every way and every moment his interpretation is mirrored by Rostropovich and the responsive London Symphony Orchestra. While music lovers will probably be more thrilled with the eloquent beauty of the Prokofiev (and this is certainly the finest recording I have heard of this concerto), Vengerov's virtuosity and clarity of technique should now bring others into the fold of devotees of the Shostakovich.

Recorded in 1994 this CD is remains the Gold Standard for these two spectacular concerti. The recording ambience is rich and full and almost as exciting as being in the concert hall. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, August 05

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Subway to the Country

MMC New Century Vol.12

Quartetto Torres Performs De Falla, Brouwer, Rak, Boccherini, Fauré

Hits Of George Strait (Karaoke)

Morning Always Comes Too Soon [CD-single] [Enhanced]

Missing Chapter, Vol. 8: Get Happy

Le Québec En 100 Chansons [Import]

Private Personal Parts [Explicit Lyrics]

Thomas Stevens, Trumpet

Ocean Dreams