Mozart: Violin Concertos / Zinman, Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Following his successful series of Beethoven Symphonies with this orchestra, Zinman collaborates with the American violinist Pamela Frank in a satisfying series of Mozart Violin Concertos. It's a fascinating experience to follow the way, in a single year (his 19th), Mozart progressed from the Baroque pleasantries of the First Concerto to the deeply personal expression of the last three. Frank and Zinman are pleasant guides. They aren't as warm as some Mozart interpreters (like the splendid Grumiaux), but their collaboration is alert and charming, and, as in his Beethoven, Zinman leads the orchestra with sparkling clarity. Zinman must have felt deeply involved in this project, as he wrote cadenzas for most of the five concertos. To fill in, they extract the three "concerto" movements (with violin solo) from Mozart's "Haffner" Serenade, not a bad idea. But there was also room for the two isolated Mozart Violin Concerto movements, which appear in some sets although not here. Too bad. At the price, it's still a bargain. --Leslie Gerber

Amazon.com essential recording

Following his successful series of Beethoven Symphonies with this orchestra, Zinman collaborates with the American violinist Pamela Frank in a satisfying series of Mozart Violin Concertos. It's a fascinating experience to follow the way, in a single year (his 19th), Mozart progressed from the Baroque pleasantries of the First Concerto to the deeply personal expression of the last three. Frank and Zinman are pleasant guides. They aren't as warm as some Mozart interpreters (like the splendid Grumiaux), but their collaboration is alert and charming, and, as in his Beethoven, Zinman leads the orchestra with sparkling clarity. Zinman must have felt deeply involved in this project, as he wrote cadenzas for most of the five concertos. To fill in, they extract the three "concerto" movements (with violin solo) from Mozart's "Haffner" Serenade, not a bad idea. But there was also room for the two isolated Mozart Violin Concerto movements, which appear in some sets although not here. Too bad. At the price, it's still a bargain. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Refreshingly Alert Collaboration for the Mozart Violin Concerti.......2007-07-11

There are times when all of the elements for cohesive performances/recordings arise, and this 2000 recording of the five Violin Concerti of Mozart with Pamela Frank, David Zinman (both conducting and writing the cadenzas!), the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, AND the recording engineers is about as perfect as any of the innumerable recordings currently available.

Pamela Frank does not play for gusto but for suave delicacy and sincere insight and her tone is a pure and unforced as any violinist on the stages today. Her approach to these well known concerti is refined, developing the necessary innate approach to the progressively more advanced composing subtleties Mozart demonstrated from the first to the fifth, and her communication with Zinman and the orchestra is secure. The often performed Concerto No. 3 in G major, K. 216 is perhaps the best example: the opening movement opens with the bristling orchestral setting for the entrance of the violin and Frank dances with the luster and brisk sparkle as well as any other violinist.

In addition to the finely honed performances of the five concerti, Zinman elects to close the concert with the Serenade No. 7 for orchestra in D major ("Haffner"). It is a treasure. Zinman has developed a specific sound with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra that is unique and has been recorded with expertise by the Arte Nova engineers. This is a fine CD even for those with multiple other recordings of the concerti by other fine violinists. Mozart/Frank/Zinman and the Tonhalle ensemble sing! Grady Harp, July 07

really good sound.......2005-10-22

The sound on these discs is great. The images of the soloists and orchestra are sharply captured. The playing of the soloist and the orchestra had no obvious defect as well. However the overall product of the effort is not my favorite. Mutter/Karajan might be preferrable although the orchestra there is somewhat heavy. edit: see my review of Lin and Leppard (Concertos 1 & 4 on Sony).

The set to own.......2001-11-12

Pamela Frank is inspiring. Her playing is light on its feet and quick-witted, with nothing Mozart didn't write and everything he did. After listening to Ms. Frank on these CDs, one cannot imagine Mozart being played any other way - it just seems so "right".

If you want two recordings, go for this one and Grumiaux (already mentioned by other reviewers). If you only want one, however, this is the one.

The Finest Recently Recorded Mozart Violin Concertos.......2001-04-26

I agree with Amazon.com's reviewer that Ms. Frank isn't as warm an interpreter of Mozart as Monsieur Grumiaux was, but she, Maestro Zinman and the Tonhalle Orchestra make a compelling case why this should be regarded as among the finest cycles of Mozart violin concerti. Indeed, Grammophone's Classical CD guide does regard it as definitive. I was greatly impressed with Ms. Frank's lyrical playing and great technical skill. I was also amazed that she played cadenzas that were largely composed by Zinman, not by Joachim or some other noted violinist of the past. Once more, David Zinman conducts the Tonhalle Orchestra as though it was a chamber orchestra, not the symphony orchestra that it is. He conducts Mozart with clarity, without being overwhelmed by warmth, opting for brisk tempi. Arte Nova's sound engineers have to be commended for producing again a first-rate well-balanced recording that is as good as their spectacular Zinman/Tonhalle Orchestra Beethoven symphony cycle.

sparkling clarity.......2000-07-05

I own several other recordings of these concertos. Maybe it's the "sparkling clarity" mentioned by Leslie Gerber, maybe its the DDD sound, or maybe it's Pamela Frank's charming style, but these sound uniquely special to me. At this price, these CDs deserve 5 stars.

Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 1-5; Haffner Serenade

Average customer rating:

Four stars for Frank's delightful playing

Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 1-5; Haffner Serenade

Manufacturer: Arte Nova Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Violin Romances
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
Robert Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4
Beethoven: Piano Concertos 3 & 4
Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies

ASIN: B0009ML2LK
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Tracks:

I. Allegro Moderato
II. Adagio
III. Presto
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Andante
III. Rondeau: Allegro
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Rondeau: Allegro

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Andante Cantabile
III. Rondeau: Andante Grazioso
I. Allegro Aperto
II. Adagio
III. Rondeau: Tempo Di Menuetto
II. Andante
III. Menuetto
IV. Rondeau

Album Description

"What a good idea to include the violin concerto movements from the Haffner Serenade as a filler, rather than the more usual group of extra movements for violin and orchestra. The Serenade shows the 20-year-old Mozart with his imagination at full stretch; Frank, Zinman and the Zurich orchestra revel in the wit, the sensuous expressiveness and the melodic fecundity of this still neglected music. Pamela Frank gives us, here and throughout the two discs, violin playing of great technical purity...The music speaks to us, naturally and without any affectation, yet respecting Mozart's indications, and such 18th-century conventions as tailing off the weak beats of the bar. She's given a splendidly positive, well-considered accompaniment...Frank's tone and bowing are more traditional but she has an equally strong ability to bring the music to life, and she's supported by an unusually characterful orchestra and very crisp, clear recording. A very strong recommendation, then - it's a fantastic bargain."-GRAMOPHONE (April 2000)

Customer Reviews:

Four stars for Frank's delightful playing.......2007-02-05

A lot of critics liked this set when it came out. Amazon chose the review by one of them to accompany its space here. Gramophone may have recommended this based on inclusion of the Haffner serenade excerpts but it would have been a better bargain had the entire serenade been included and not just a couple bleeding chunks.

Otherwise, this is a fine embodiment of Pamela Frank's playing -- straightforward, stylistic, dimensional, warm and consistent -- in Mozart's five youthful concertos. She plays delightfully throughout and is the reason to buy this set, which offers the entire ouevre of Mozart's work in solo violin concerti at a discount price. Zinman restricts his desire to push speeds beyond the boundaries of good taste and offers good support for the soloist throughout the cycle. His orchestra plays well with a few spotlit solo instruments.

Still, I wouldn't call this the greatest work I've ever heard in this repertoire, even among discount versions. The archtype set of concertos with Grumiaux playing and Davis conducting is available for about the same price. You can get two CDs of concerti plus some other stuff played by Zukerman for about the same price if you're willing to put up with scrappy support. It's worth it insofar as Zukerman is twice the fiddler.

If you just want the better concertos, an excellent cheapie CD of Concerti 3-5 features Christian Tetzlaff playing and conducting the German Chamber Orchestra on a discount Virgin CD that was taken from the entire set for those forces. The best account I know of the Haffner serenade is by Karl Munchinger and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. It's available through Haydn House for $10.

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