Beethoven/Sibelius: Violin Concertos

1. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with David Oistrakh
Conducted by Sixten Ehrling

2. Violin Concerto, for violin & orchestra in D minor, Op. 47
Composed by Jean Sibelius
with David Oistrakh
Conducted by Sixten Ehrling

Tracks:

Concert For Violin And Orchestra In D Major, Op.61: I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo (Cadenza: Fritz Kreisler) - Bruno Walter
Concert For Violin And Orchestra In D Major, Op.61: II. Larghetto - Bruno Walter
Concert For Violin And Orchestra In D Major, Op.61: III. Rondo: Allegro - Bruno Walter
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Minor, Op.47: I. Allegro Moderato - The Philadelphia Orchestra
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Minor, Op.47: II. Adagio Di Molto - The Philadelphia Orchestra
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Minor, Op.47: III. Allegro, Ma Non Tanto - The Philadelphia Orchestra

Amazon.com

The Sibelius Violin Concerto was a David Oistrakh specialty. He brought to it a personal warmth and poetry, and he made the most of what critics call Sibelius's "Russian melancholy," which is the term applied to Russian music when it sounds most Finnish. But seriously, the great Finnish composer was a strong admirer of Tchaikovsky, whose Violin Concerto was another Oistrakh specialty. Eugene Ormandy's Sibelius credentials were similarly well established at the time that this great recording was made. At a budget price, with a terrific Beethoven Violin Concerto tossed in, you'd have to be nuts not to want to hear it. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Francescatti vs. Heifetz.......2007-04-21

I've owned this CD and the Heifetz/Reiner Beethoven for years, and it's hard to imagine that both violinists were playing from the same score. Francescatti makes a regular practice of holding a note just a bit, to shape a phrase or add emphasis. Heifetz makes a consistent practice of avoiding this and moving briskly on--which raises the issue of tempo: in the first movement, Heifetz takes a full 2 minutes less than Francescatti (despite Heifetz' somewhat elaborate cadenza), and the remaining movements are similarly timed. As he bustles along, Heifetz tends to vary the force of his notes more subtly than Francescatti, who deploys a wider range of volume levels.

As a result, lovers of the Francescatti approach may find Heifetz clipped, brusque and impersonal, while lovers of the Heifetz approach may find Francescatti slow, heavy and mushy. Or to put it in positive terms, Heifetz excels in maintaining and building rhythmic energy, while Francescatti is best in developing the emotional content of the work and letting it "breathe." It took me a long time to come to appreciate both approaches, and I signal this as a study in contrast. At this low price, you can buy both and decide for yourself. (My favorite? This one.)

The gentleman of the violin!.......2006-06-30

Zino Francescati was a very solvent violinist with a pleasant tune and a warmth temperament. His phrasing was kind and delicate, and this is perhaps his main virtue and his main defect, because many works don't resist such approach.

But in this case, Beethoven' s Violin Concerto works out because the sublime inspiration of this Opus, allows to be expressed under this considerations and particularly this vision is carefully performed in this case.

Elegance and refinement feature this version. So please, don't miss it.

In the case of Sibelius violin's concerto, there are better options in the market such Ginette Neveu, ivry Gitlis and Jasha Heifetz.

masters at work.......2006-01-18

Francescatti's Beethoven concerto is shapely and engaging, and the playing is warm and refined throughout. My ultimate preferences with this piece are Shumsky's 1988 recording with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Davis, and Menuhin's recording under Furtwangler, but I admire Francescatti's beautiful lines and devoted intelligence. The reason, however, for seizing this remarkable offer (who knows anymore how long any recording will remain available!) has to be Oistrakh's incomparable recording of the Sibelius under Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orch. Of the many versions of this great work, for me, there is none that matches this particular Oistrakh/Ormandy recording. Of more recent versions, Cho-Liang Lin turns in a stupendously musical performance of this piece - convincing and beautiful. I believe five or six D. Oistrakh recorded versions of this concerto remain in print; his Melodiya recording with Rozhdestvensky is a rival, but Ormandy's command of the glacial cast of Sibelius' orchestral writing is just amazing, and, underpinning Oistrakh's inimitable conception, the playing of the Philadelphia Orch is rich and perfectly attuned to Sibelius. The remastered sound is first-rate, you'd think it was a modern recording. Whether you love this concerto, or dont yet know it, you've found here a defining performance to reveal its mysteries. I've treasured this recording for thirty years, and urge you to give it a hearing.

Two Violin Concerti - Two wonderful recordings.......2005-12-25

I don't play the violin at all, but I love these two concerti (They're among my favorites for violin).

The Beethoven is pretty good, actually very good. This is one of the first pieces I heard live at a concert. The length of the whole piece doesn't matter when you're actually listening to it. I've heard more romantic versions, but I actually prefer Francescatti's interpretation. It's very fine, nothing too showy to make the music more than what it is. For a more "modern" recording, I would choose Hilary Hahn's.

I haven't listened to the Sibelius as much as the Beethoven on this CD, but I actually prefer this playing to the artists of today, such as Bell, Chang, etc. Oistrakh's tone is wonderful.

I would definitely recommending this CD to anyoone, to introduce these pieces to a new listener, or to add this to a classical music connoisseur's collection.

Excellent recording, good price.......2005-08-10

This is a really great CD, featuring two of the 20th century's best violinists - Zino Francescatti on the Beethoven and David Oistrakh on the Sibelius. While the majority of my recordings are by modern day artists (Hahn, Chang, Bell, Midori, etc), I have several recordings by older artists, and for the most part I can tell a real difference in their playing styles compare to modern day players. To me, the older artists seem to play with a much more elegant, restrained style than the newer artists (with the exception of, perhaps Heifetz). While both artists play magnificently on this CD, I would say that this more elegant playing serves the Beethoven much better than the Sibelius.

The Beethoven isn't really one of my favorite concerti, mostly because it's so long that I rarely listen to the entire thing (all movements). However, I have listened to this entire recording more than enough times to recognize the warm, personal playing that Francescatti delivers.

The Sibelius, one of my all-time favorite concertos (for any instrument), is played exceptionally well by Oistrakh, though I think his playing style is a little too reserved for my tastes. To me, it often sounds like Oistrakh is playing in a more classical style than the Sibelius warrants. Compared with a recording at the other end of the spectrum (for example, Salerno-Sonnenberg), Oistrakh's playing is just a little boring, particularly on the spectacular final movement. Don't get me wrong, he plays beautifully, but I just prefer Sibelius to be a little grittier. However, to Oistrakh's credit, his playing is always perfect and controlled, even in incredibly difficult spots where some other artists can sound border-line out of control. It seems that playing with fire and abandon often comes at the price of clarity, and playing with technical clarity and perfection often comes at the price of excitement. That being said, no recording can really be said to be better than the other... I just happen to prefer the sibelius to be played slightly closer to the "fiery abandon" side of the spectrum (however, my favorite version of this concerto, by Midori, seems to find a perfect balance between the two extremes). Enjoy

Average customer rating:

Underpriced
Superb survey of one of the all-time greatest violinists

Violin Concertos [Box Set]

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0009VI51G
Release Date: 2005-06-28

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.

Average customer rating:

Mostly Magnificent Menuhin, with a Few Reservations

The Violinist
Yehudi Menuhin , Johann Sebastian Bach , Bela Bartok , Ludwig van Beethoven , Alban Berg , Johannes Brahms , Max Bruch , Arcangelo Corelli , Edward Elgar , Franz Joseph Haydn , Edouard Lalo , Felix Mendelssohn , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Carl Nielsen , Niccolo Paganini , Camille Saint-Saens , Jean Sibelius , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Michael Tippett , Henri Vieuxtemps , Antonio Vivaldi , William Walton , Alberto Lysy , Anatole Fistoulari , Antal Dorati , Anthony Bernard , Gaston Poulet , John Pitchard , Mogens Woldike , Pierre Boulez , and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

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ASIN: B0000BWTKJ
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Affettuoso
III. Allegro
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro Assai
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro Assai
I. Vivace
II. Largo Ma Non Tanto
III. Allegro

Tracks:

Rhapsody No. 2 (Lassu [Moderato] - Friss [Allegro Moderato])
I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Andante Tranquillo
III. Allegro Molto
I. Andante
I. Allegretto (Scherzando)
II. Allegro
II. Adagio

Tracks:

Romance No. 1 In G Major
I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo (Cadenza: Kreisler)
II. Larghetto
III. Rondo (Allegro) (Cadenza: Kreisler)
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Adagio
III. Finale (Allegro Energico)

Tracks:

Romance No. 2 In F Major, Op. 50
I. Allegro Non Troppo (Cadenza: Kreisler)
II. Adagio
III. Allegro Giocoso, Ma Non Troppo Vivace - Poco Piu Presto
I. Allegro Molto Appassionato
II. Andante
III. Allegretto Non Troppo - Allegro Molto Vivace

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro Molto
I. Andante Tranquillo
II. Presto Capriccioso Alla Napolitana & Trio (Canzonetta)
III. Vivace

Tracks:

I. Allegro Moderato (Cadenza: Menuhin)
II. Adagio Molto
III. Finale (Presto) (Cadenza: Menuhin)
I. Allegro
II. Andante Cantabile
III. Rondo (Andante Grazioso - Allegro Ma Non Troppo)
I. Allegro Maestoso
II. Andante
III. Presto

Tracks:

I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Scherzando (Allegro Molto)
III. Intermezzo (Allegretto Non Troppo)
IV. Andante
V. Rondo (Allegro)
I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Andantino Quasi Allegretto
III. Molto Moderato E Maestoso - Allegro Non Troppo
Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28
Havanaise, Op. 83

Tracks:

I. Allegro Maestoso (Cadenza: Emile Sauret)
II. Adagio Espressivo
III. Rondo (Allegro Spiritoso)
I. Andante - Moderato - Cadenza
II. Adagio Religioso
III. Scherzo (Vivace) & Trio
IV. Finale (Allegro)
I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Cadenza
III. Adagio
IV. Allegro Con Fuoco

Tracks:

Serenade Melancolique
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Adagio Di Molto
III. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
I. Praeludium (Largo)
I. Allegro Cavalleresco
II. Intermezzo (Poco Adagio)
II. Rondo (Allegretto Scherzando)

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Largo
III. Allegro
I. Allegro Non Molto
II. Adagio
III. Presto
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro
I. Allegro Non Molto
II. Largo
III. Allegro
I. Vivace - Allegro - Adagio - Vivace - Allegro - Largo Andante
II. Allegro
III. Grave - Andante Largo - Allegro
Fantasia Concertante On A Theme Of Corelli

Customer Reviews:

Mostly Magnificent Menuhin, with a Few Reservations.......2004-01-06

The recent trend toward classical box sets focusing on the performer instead of the composer (see my reviews of the various DG/Decca "Original Masters" sets) continues with EMI's new "Yehudi Menuhin - The Violinist." Sure EMI's past sets have showcased individual performances by Samson Francois, Eugen Jochum and Rudolf Kempe to name a few, but it was always under the heading of a given composer's works, and in the cases mentioned above, to Chopin's piano pieces, Bruckner's Symphonies and Strauss' Orchestral Works respectively. Therefore, this Menuhin collection is the first of EMI's "Budget Box Sets" to showcase a performer playing the works of a variety of composers.

As Menuhin was an EMI recording artist for an incredible 68 years (1931-99), his performances for the label number in the hundreds. With so much music from which to choose, this 10-disc set aims "to highlight some of those alternative versions, including recordings that have not been easily available since the days of LP and others that have never previously appeared on CD." Therefore, the obvious mainstream, easily attainable recordings are omitted here -- for example, the Beethoven/Mendelssohn VCs with Furtwangler, the Elgar VC with the composer conducting, and the Bruch/Mendelssohn VCs with Susskind and Kurtz.

However, a lot of this material has been on disc before on titles which the serious collector most likely already owns. Most of the Bach is currently available as part of the Bach "Budget Box Series" title. The Bruch, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Vivaldi VCs were all available in the now out-of-print 2CD EMI Seraphim series. The Elgar and the Walton are still available in the "British Composers" series. And perhaps most annoyingly, the previously unpublished Beethoven VC and Tchaikovsky "Serenade melancolique" (available as a single disc), and the Beethoven Romance No. 2 (available on an EMI Encore title) were both reissued just a few months back.

But let's focus on the positive, which are the other rare performances, the most significant being the never before reissued 1954 performance of Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 with John Pritchard and the Philharmonia. Other elusive recordings include Viuextemps and Paganini VCs with Fistoulari, Lalo and Saint-Saens works with Goossens, and excellent Berg and Bartok accounts with Boulez. Though I'm delighted at their inclusion, of lesser importance is a 1965 Bartok VC No. 2 with Dorati -- his mono EMI with Furtwangler and an earlier account with Dorati on Mercury Living Presence are far superior. Also, neither the Sibelius (Boult, 1955) nor Nielsen (Woldike, 1952) Concertos are truly Menuhin's cups of tea.

My last complaint has to do with the packaging. I know I'm being rather trite but it seems that EMI has taken the "slim" out of slim, paper-sleeved box sets with their latest batch of releases. Both this title and the new box of Liszt Orchestral Works by Masur are noticeably thicker than previous EMI sets featuring a similar number of discs. A minor point, but us serious classical collectors need every centimeter of space on our increasingly crowded CD shelves, not to mention the amount of wasted packaging.

Overall though, despite the fact that "Yehudi Menuhin - The Violinist" is not as essential a reissue as its counterparts in the "Original Masters" series, it is a delightful set that most collectors will thoroughly enjoy.

Average customer rating:

The Great Violin Concertos-Ferras/Berlin Phil-Von Karajan
This Sibelius is the best
A Different but Pleasing Approach to Beethoven op. 61
Wonderful Schumann and Sibelius

The Great Violin Concertos

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001GJJ
Release Date: 1995-09-19

Tracks:

Concerto pour violon et orchestre, Op.77: 1. Allegro non troppo
Concerto pour violon et orchestre, Op. 77: 2. Adagio
Concerto pour violon et orchestre, Op. 77: 3. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace Poco piu presto
Concerto pour violon et orchestre, Op. 47: 1. Allegro moderato
Concerto pour violon et orchestre, Op. 47: 2. Adagio di molto
Concerto pour violon et orchestre, Op. 47: 3. Allegro ma non tanto

Tracks:

Concerto pour violon et orchestre, Op. 61: 1. Allegro ma non troppo
Concerto pour violon et orchestre, Op. 61: 2. Larghetto - attacca
Concerto pour violon et orchestre, Op. 61: 3. Rondo. Allegro
Sonate pour violon et piano, Op. 121: 1. Ziemlich Langsam - Lebhaft
Sonate pour violon et piano, Op. 121: 2. Sehr lebhaft
Sonate pour violon et piano, Op. 121: 3. Leise, einfach
Sonate pour violon et piano, Op. 121: 4. Bewegt

Customer Reviews:

The Great Violin Concertos-Ferras/Berlin Phil-Von Karajan.......2004-11-25

Simply superb. THe Brahms is heartfelt and the Sibelius is haunting. The Beethoven ans Schumann holds second to none.

This Sibelius is the best.......2004-05-19

Just on the Sibelius Violin Concerto with Christian Ferras. Astonishingly underrated. I was quite overwhelmed by it. (Only David Oistrakh is any thing like as good.) None of the showy scraping `gypsy' violin style, just nobility, power, strength and seriousness, which is just what Sibelius is said to have wanted. Apparently, Sibelius marked a slower tempo in the first movement than he might have done just to deter violinists from using it for virtuoso display. Ferras plays this piece as if it were a symphony: passionate with a superb full tone and magnificent intonation. Very good recording quality too. Karajan gives him just the right support: dark, powerful, purposive. Ferras isn't quite as well known these days as some other violinists - this may be partly owning to the fact that he died comparatively young, aged only 49 in 1982. I can't recommend it too highly.

A Different but Pleasing Approach to Beethoven op. 61.......2000-05-06

I finally found it on CD!

The Ferras/Karajan recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto (on LP) was the first recording of this work I ever heard. I got it as a bonus with an introductory set of the Symphonies when I joined a record club in the early eighties. I had been only a casual listener of classical music at that time and the absolute beauty of this particular recording was one of the major factors in my learning more about this genre.

The previous reviewer felt that this version lacked the "crisp, biting" quality of his favorite recordings of the work. This finally helps me understand why when CD's first replaced LP's, and this version was unavailable on CD, I could never find a CD version of this piece that satisfied me. I had become "imprinted" on this particular version, which inspired my love of classical music. I was especially moved by Ferras's solo passages in the slow movement.

An extra bonus, which should be especially appealing to someone starting a classical library, is the inclusion of the wonderful Brahms and Sibelius concerti, plus the Schumann sonata. What a package!

Wonderful Schumann and Sibelius.......1998-11-15

This album offers close to the best versions of Schumann's second violin sonata and Sibelius's concerto. Ferras and Barbizet's fierce violence in the opening, coupled with the beauty of the middle sections in the sonata, outpaces even Kremer/Argerich (DG) and Kaler/Slutsky (Naxos). Ferras and Barbizet's approach is exactly what you would expect from their Beethoven sonatas (EMI). The Sibelius concerto is just about the most gorgeous available in terms of sheer sound, and Ferras's playing is masterful and passionate. I like it as well as Oistrakh's versions, but there are those who prefer the latter. At the two-for-one price, these two pieces are worth the price of admission.

The Brahms concerto is a very good reading of the score, and certainly among the best six or eight recordings of that piece. It is in the Beethoven that I part company with Karajan's approach. I believe the approach is his doing, though Ferras falls in with the plan. This is undoubtedly the most sumptuous and laid-back Beethoven concerto in the catalog. The sound of the orchestra and the violin are beautiful, everything is legato, and all the rough edges are rounded. Ferras even shapes his cadenza (the familiar one by Fritz Kreisler) to match the smooth and syrupy delivery of the whole. However, this amounts to a small complaint in an otherwise marvellous and economy-priced album. For those who want a crisp, biting, and vibrant Beethoven concerto, I recommend Stern and Bernstein (Sony). Some prefer Oistrakh/Cluytens (EMI) or Heifetz/Munch (RCA).

Tracks:

Vn Con in D, Op.61: I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Vn Con in D, Op.61: II. Larghetto
Vn Con in D, Op.61: III. Rondo (Allegro)
Vn Con in d, Op.47: I. Allegro Moderato
Vn Con in d, Op.47: II. Adagio Di Molto
Vn Con in d, Op.47: III. Allegro Ma Non Tanto

Customer Reviews:

One of the two best.......2005-06-17

Five stars, in spite of two things: poor sound quality (1954) and the fact that I am not impressed by the Sibelius concerto - Heifetz/Hendl better, Stern/Ormandy better. Five stars because this perfect Beethoven performance in spite of poor sound has a wonderful, antique atmosphere, an air of patina and a passion more than able to carry this even above the top five stars. It seems very difficult to play Beethoven's Violin Concerto with both the dignity and the passion this work - so different from all other Beethoven - demands. Here Oistrakh proves able to keep it capturing to the very end! I have many recordings of this concerto, but the only CD that I find equally good and, from another point of view, significantly better, is again by Oistrakh, with Cluytens & Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française (1958), which is slower, grander and has more dignity to the pacing, but not the same passion. That one - Legend: David Oistrakh [CD & DVD] - will be released in the US on July 19 and I'll return to it then. Anyway, this Oistrakh/Ehrling from 1954 is very impassionate and in full right on its own merit. Passionately recommended!

this is why i love old recordings.......2003-02-27

This is a wonderful disc that was recorded in the 1950's. It features an outstanding violinist playing two very good pieces of music.

Oistrakh's violin is featured quite prominently throughout both performances, at times even a little more than I would prefer. I do not know how much this is due to the fact that he is playing with a less-notable orchestra & conducter, or how much it is just the result of older recording techniques. Regardless, Oistrakh shows that he is capable of carrying both pieces with plenty of personality and some amazing displays of his virtuosity. The recording manages to capture the wonderful richness of his tone, which is every bit as gritty as it is graceful. Although I would not characterize the orchestra's sound as exceptionally clear or colorful, it comes through very warmly and with enough strength to create some very moving music.

Product Description

WILHELM FURTWÄNGLER. Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). 1. En Saga, symphonic poem. Live recording: Berlin, 07.02.1943. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, op. 47: 2. Allegro moderato 3. Adagio di molto 4. Allegro ma non tanto. Ludwig Van Beethoven. 5. Coriolan, overture, op. 62. Live recording: Berlin, 27.06.1943. Berliner Philharmoniker, Conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler. Total Time 59:48. MONO.