Violin for Anne Rice

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
As if practicing one's fingertips to the bone isn't punishment enough, some young violinists in today's glutted market are now having to put in long hours each day blow-drying their hair; Leila Josefowicz displays several dos in the book that comes with this CD. The performances, mostly of showpieces by Ysaye, Tchaikovsky, Bizet, and the like, are clean but shallow (not that these pieces are terribly deep to begin with). The first and last cuts are pop tunes: Sting's "Moon Over Bourbon Street" and Robert Sadin's "Crescent Moon"--music sure to soon be piped into an underwear store near you. Anne Rice was evidently preoccupied with Josefowicz during the writing of her novel Violin and the two became friends, hence the title of the disc. -- Jennifer Loflin

Tracks:

Moon Over Bourbon Street
Introduction And Rondo Capriccioso, Op.28
Thais: Meditation
Carmen Fantasy, Op.25
Sonata In E Minor, Op. 27, No. 4: Sarabande
Violin Concerto In D, Op. 35: Allegro Moderato
Violin Concerto In D, Op. 35: Canzonetta - Andante
Violin Concerto In D, Op. 35: Finale - Allegro vivacissimo
Crescent Moon (Leila's Dance)

Amazon.com

As if practicing one's fingertips to the bone isn't punishment enough, some young violinists in today's glutted market are now having to put in long hours each day blow-drying their hair; Leila Josefowicz displays several dos in the book that comes with this CD. The performances, mostly of showpieces by Ysaye, Tchaikovsky, Bizet, and the like, are clean but shallow (not that these pieces are terribly deep to begin with). The first and last cuts are pop tunes: Sting's "Moon Over Bourbon Street" and Robert Sadin's "Crescent Moon"--music sure to soon be piped into an underwear store near you. Anne Rice was evidently preoccupied with Josefowicz during the writing of her novel Violin and the two became friends, hence the title of the disc. -- Jennifer Loflin

Customer Reviews:

The Age of the Info-Critic.......2006-02-25

Most critics are a self-doubting bunch and some review books, CDs or restaurants without benefit of first-hand experience. Or, as is the case here, they introduce unrelated material in order to bolster their pre-set opinion. This is a stunning CD, deeply romantic and satisfying. Yes, it is parochial and one whose origins are the stuff of fiction but does that invalidate the virtuosity and lushness? I enjoyed the music immensely even though I stopped reading the Vampire series after the second book. At times the music soars and I too have thought of "old" New Orleans many times while listening to this recording. Rush out and buy it now!

Heavenly Violin, Lovely Performance!.......2005-06-30

The world is full of self appointed, self glorifying CRITICS in all fields of human endeavour. They sit in their imaginary lofty perches to look down on and lash out at those under their scrutiny with disdain, contempt, insults and envy even. Maybe they do so to `paint' a certain veneer of credibility, profundity and `gravitas' over their opinions. Or maybe because critics are more often than not, LESS talented, gifted, well-known, well-liked and well-endowed physically than those they criticised. Instead of providing useful information, constructive criticisms, enlightening perspectives or deep insights into musical performances and recordings, we get brief, superficial, meaningless comments on what is but personal and normal i.e. hairdos. The great works by Tchaikovsky and other renowned composers, works that are beloved by many and have been similarly performed by famous violinists like Anne Sophie Mutter, David Oistrakh, etc, have been simply and derisively brushed aside as "not terribly deep". I wonder who really is superficial!

Anyway, I see no book nor am I interested in what's in it. I am interested however in Ms Josefowicz CDs, which I came across whilst browsing for more performances of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto which is one of my favourites. I was attracted enough to want to buy but was apprehensive because I was not familiar with the musician and could not audition the CD where it was available. After doing a bit of research on the Internet, I took the risk to buy this CD. I understand that the violin used by Ms Josefowicz was a Guarneri and I have never heard one before (all recordings I owned are Stradivarus - I think!?). So I felt I MUST listen to this! I was not disappointed and was pleasantly surprised and pleased with the performance instead. As a `nit picking' audiophile, I find the recording quality excellent. The performances were relaxed but nonetheless, lively and emotionally engaging. The sound of the violin was heavenly - tonally rich and full. Ms Josefowicz performances may not be at the level of the "old masters" or the "famously great" - but this does not make them any less musically satisfying and enjoyable to ordinary music lovers like me. The CD now takes its place of pride among my other revered older recordings, to provide a different, fresh and interesting take on a great piece of musical work. I personally feel that Ms Josefowicz has it in her to be among the first and best, if she ignore ignorant critics and if she focus on the classical music repertoire, avoiding the modern cross-over type of music like those two out-of-place pieces found here on this CD. Leave these to violinists like Vanessa May!

So to all my fellow music lovers, do give this a try; you may find yourself falling in love with it like I did...

Outstanding.......2004-07-12

This is the first Classical collection I have ever bought and I will not lie. I bought it because it had something to do with Anne Rice. But when I started to listen to it, I was blown away. Leila has amazing talent and she is just so good. Brava.

It's been established she can play the Tchaikovsky............2000-06-18

Don't get me wrong when I say that, she is very talented, but she all ready made a recording of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. There were a few new things on this CD which she was great at, but those two other tracks, one at the beginning, one at the end, were very annoying. They aren't classical! If she wants to do stuff with jazz, then she should make an individual CD for it. Overall, she displayed her talent, but most of that CD was a waste for me.

She can play in tempo........1999-06-04

Just the other day heard a piece by Sarasate performed by Ms. Josefowicz.She DID play it in tempo, throughout. ("Tempo is the most important part of music", Mozart--quoted from memory, possibly inexactly.) Now, whether it be Mozart, or Sarasate or other lesser ones, if not played in tempo they would better be left alone. That remark applies to the bulk of what is nowadays produced in the classical field, Ms. Josefowicz being one of the FEW noble exceptions.The review by a professional (?) critic as printed above is just fiddlesticks--I mean, it is a bunch of baloney and misses the point completely. Though I have not heard the whole album, I think it presumably correct to expect that if Ms.Josefowicz could play one thing in tempo, she would be able to play other things in tempo too. And, again, anything played otherwise should not have been played at all. Karajan has uttered some pointed remarks on the subject just as well. Ms. Josefowicz does fulfill the very first requirement there is of music. She is one of the rarities.I am shocked and offended (alas, not the first time) by a critic sicked on an innocent and excellent artist. Thanks to the Internet though, the era of the Crrrtc Almighty may be nearing its end, and I sincerely hope for just that.That the cited reviewer might simply be ugly-looking is the most likely explanation after all. Oh, well, maybe it is just one of those deep-in-thought cases.

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