Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich: Violin Concertos

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Born in 1982, violinist Ilya Gringolts, an Itzhak Perlman protégé, seems primed for a major career, as his DG concerto debut disc reveals. His Tchaikovsky concerto easily holds its own among dozens of other versions stuffing the bins. Gringolts's virile yet singing timbre and direct, proportioned musicianship are matched by Perlman's incisive podium support and an attractive orchestral image that brings the composer's lovely woodwind writing to the fore. The young violinist similarly shines in Shostakovich's First Concerto, gearing his sonority to fit each movement's distinct mood. He commences the cadenza in sustained, raspy tones that grow more vibrant and robust as the music progresses. Perlman as soloist, however, enjoyed a more decisively projected, better balanced, and texturally diversified accompaniment from the same orchestra under Zubin Mehta's baton. All told, Gringolts's artistry is well worth your attention, and DG's investment. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Underpriced.......2006-12-19

It is incredible to me that I was able to purchase ten discs of probably the single greatest violinist of the century tackling immortal masterpieces for less than the cost of a utility bill.

You are thinking, "where's the catch?" Well, there is none. The transfers are excellent, the performances, of course, are superb. The only corner-cutting to be found was in the packaging, but even that was more than sufficient.

All these riches made me greedy, though. I wish there was Bartok 2 as well as 1, same with Szymanowski. I wish there was Khatchaturian. But how spoiled I am to be complaining! There is so much here to be enjoyed, from the crags of Szymanowski and the peaks of Beethoven to the cool, dark valleys of Chausson. If you only ever buy one violin box set, buy this one.

Superb survey of one of the all-time greatest violinists.......2005-08-28

We haven't been exactly short on releases by the great David Oistrakh, whether in the LP days or on CD. The trouble was that his recorded legacy - one of the most extensive in history by any violinist - has been made accessible through a multitude of labels, often in a haphazard fashion, and even more often for a very short time. The arrival of this new 10 CD-box has to be saluted for its effort to group a splendid selection of live recordings by Oistrakh made in the USSR between 1939 and 1968 with the Moscow Philharmonic, the Leningrad Philharmonic and the USSR Radio Symphony Orchestra, with some of the foremost conductors of the day (Alexander Gauk, Kirill Kondrashin, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Kurt Sanderling).

Undoubtedly, collectors will already have the majority of the recordings presented here (although a lot is no longer available), but this box covers all the great concertos and as a survey of the art of "King David" it is presently unbeatable.

The sound quality is variable, of course, but totally acceptable regarding the age of some of the documents.

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Shostakovich: The 2 Violin Concertos

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000FGG5U8
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich: Violin Concertos

Average customer rating:

Interesting Program, Good Playing
Perlman needs more experience

Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich: Violin Concertos
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Ilya Gringolts , Itzhak Perlman , and The Isreal Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Prokofiev and Sibelius Violin Concertos

ASIN: B00006AKUY
Release Date: 2002-09-10

Tracks:

I. Allegro Moderato
II. Canzonetta: Andante
III. Finale: Allegro Vivacissimo
I. Nocturne: Moderato
II. Scherzo: Allegro
III. Passacaglia: Andante
Cadenza
IV. Burlesque: Allegro Con Brio

Amazon.com

Born in 1982, violinist Ilya Gringolts, an Itzhak Perlman protégé, seems primed for a major career, as his DG concerto debut disc reveals. His Tchaikovsky concerto easily holds its own among dozens of other versions stuffing the bins. Gringolts's virile yet singing timbre and direct, proportioned musicianship are matched by Perlman's incisive podium support and an attractive orchestral image that brings the composer's lovely woodwind writing to the fore. The young violinist similarly shines in Shostakovich's First Concerto, gearing his sonority to fit each movement's distinct mood. He commences the cadenza in sustained, raspy tones that grow more vibrant and robust as the music progresses. Perlman as soloist, however, enjoyed a more decisively projected, better balanced, and texturally diversified accompaniment from the same orchestra under Zubin Mehta's baton. All told, Gringolts's artistry is well worth your attention, and DG's investment. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Program, Good Playing.......2003-09-17

I was not familiar with either of these concertos, except in a general way, hearing them occasionally on the radio, before buying this disc, so I have no other performances to compare them to. As it is, I am quite satisfied with this Gringolts/Perlman disc, both as to the playing, and more particularly, the programming. The flashy, romantic Tchaikovsky concerto, comes first. It is fresh and enjoyable, and more than competently played. The moody Shostakovich fills out this 73 minute disc, giving it a depth and edge that most paired concerto discs don't have. Again, the playing and the conducting seem fine to me. The recording could be a little better, but I doubt that I'll be cruising the net or flipping through bins to find the 'ultimate' performances of either work. I can listen to these quite happily for a while. And as I see used discs are available at a bargain price, I'd say go for it. You probably won't be disappointed.

Perlman needs more experience.......2003-01-31

This recording features a 20-year-old protégé of Itzhak Perlman, Ilya Gringolts, with the Israel Philharmonic, conducted by Perlman himself. I know that Perlman is conducting more and playing the violin less, but on the evidence of this recording I'd have to say he should have waited awhile longer to record these pieces.

Gringolts himself is a standout. But the accompaniment provided by Perlman, particularly in the Shostakovich, is much too genial, too self-effacing. There needs to be grit in the orchestral accompaniment in the Shosty and here there is none. Maybe it's partly the fault of the famously bad acoustics of the IPO's Mann Auditorium, but there have been superior recordings made in that venue.

The Tchaikovsky is better, at least partly because there is no need for 20th-century angst in the piece. And the first two movements are really quite lovely, a bit inward, an approach I happen to like. But the third movement is, how shall I say?, frenetic rather than impetuous. And again there is too little spine in Perlman's accompaniment.

There are better versions of both concertos. Mr Gringolts is young, and he'll almost certainly have a major career and therefore the opportunity to records these concerti again.

Scott Morrison

Violin Concertos by Shostakovich & Tchaikovsky

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Violin Concertos by Shostakovich & Tchaikovsky

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