Prokofiev: Violin Concerto Nos. 1 & 2

1. Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev
Performed by BBC Symphony Orchestra with Itzhak Perlman
Conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky

2. Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev
Performed by BBC Symphony Orchestra with Itzhak Perlman
Conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky

Tracks:

Canon In D
'Brandenburg' Concerto No. 3: Allegro
The Four Seasons - The Winter: Largo And Allegro
Fanfare ('Masterpiece Theatre' Theme)
Camerata Romana: Air For The 'G' String
'Eine kleine Nachtmusik': Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 21 ('Elvira Madigan' Theme): Andante
Introduction To Symphony No. 5
'William Tell' Overture: Finale
'Aida': Triumphal March
On The Beautiful, Blue Danube Waltz
'The Nutcracker': Waltz Of The Flowers
'1812' Overture: Finale

Tracks:

Sabre Dance
'Light Cavalry' Overture: Finale
Carmen: The Toreadors
' Midsummer Night's Dream': Wedding March
Radetzky March
Symphony No. 9, 'Choral': Finale
'Prince Igor': Polovstian Dance No. 17
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Peer Gynt: Solveig's Song
Sleepers, Wake
Water Music: Hornpipe
Symphony No. 9, 'From The New World': Largo
Emperor Waltz
'Emperor' Quartet: St. Anthony's Chorale
'The Tales Of Hoffman': Barcarolle
L'Arlesienne: Farandole
'The Nutcracker': Dance Of The Mirlitons
'The Nutcracker': Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy
'Rhapsody In Blue': Highlight
'Orpheus In The Underworld': Can-Can

Tracks:

Introduction To 'Also sprach Zarathustra'
Symphony No. 4, 'Italian': Saltarello: Presto
Piano Concerto No. 20: Romance
'The Valkyrie': Ride Of The Valkyries
'The Four Seasons' - The Spring: Allegro
Toccata and Fugue
Trumpet Voluntary
'Royal Fireworks Music': la rejouissance: Allegro
'Moonlight' Sonata: Adagio Sostenuto
London Festival Orchestra: Overture To 'The Barber Of Seville'
Piano Concerto No. 2: Adagio Sostenuto

Tracks:

Carmina Burana: Introduction To 'Carmina Burana'
Peer Gynt: Dawn From 'Peer Gynt'
Lohengrin: Prelude To 'Lohengrin'
'Lieutenant Kije': Troika From 'Lieutenant Kije'
Adiago For Strings
'Carmen': Habanera From 'Carmen'
'Double' Concerto: Allegro From 'Double' Concerto
The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture To 'The Marriage Of Figaro'
(Rondo) Alla Turca
Xerxes: Largo From 'Xerxes'
Symphony No. 5: Allegro vivace From Symphony No. 5
'Swan Lake': Scene: Enchanted Lake From 'Swan Lake'
Clair De Lune
Bolero

Customer Reviews:

CD set is misnamed.......2007-06-08

They should have titled this "classical music for people who love classical music" because most of the selections are typical classical music. The title suggests it would be lively selections of "light classical" music that is more upbeat, i.e. Sabre Dance, etc. I really don't hate classical music at all and have many classical CDs in my collection but I really wanted to hear more exciting selections. I won't be purchasing any more of this set but if you like traditional classical music these are good one.

Do not Buy.......2007-02-21

I do know it says classical music for people who hate it, but serioulsly you would have better luck never listening to classical music again. The recordings are awfull and do not do justice to any of the composers. Buy something else.

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music.......2007-01-30

We love this set of CD's. I just got a new copy because my kids keeping taking our first copy with them so that they can listen at work or in their bedrooms but then I can never find them.

Seek better versions.......2006-12-09

If you are fairly new to classical purchases then compilation CD's can be useful for deciding what to buy next. Sometimes you only need a small taste of a piece to inspire you to buy a release with the whole performance on. The problem with this compilation however is that most of the versions are poor in performance or recording quality (or both) when compared to the best versions and the fact that the conductors aren't even credited on the track listing made me suspect that this would be the case. One of my favorite classical pieces is Tchaikovsky's 1812 festival overture but if the first CD version I had heard had been the finale excerpt that is on this compilation I may not have gone on to buy the whole thing. Luckily I heard Adrian Leaper's version first and Adrian's version is rather good.
My classical CD buying experience is limited to only a couple of dozen discs but I have found that the Naxos and Deutshe Grammophon releases are fairly safe. Avoid any release which does not name the conductors on the track listing or sleeve notes.

It Is What It Is.......2006-10-27

It's fitting that this page is fraught with the same kind of silly snobbery that turns people off from classical music (and necessitates collections like this) in the first place.

Any criticism of this compilation, which focuses on the quality of the performances or the fact that many tracks are excerpts, misses the point. This is not a collection for people who consider such things, nor does it purport to be. The idea is to package as many ultra-famous classical melodies as possible in one affordable collection and market it to people who have never purchased a classical recording. As such, top-tier performances are likely too expensive to be sold so cheaply and are unnecessary anyway. Those of us who already know and love a piece or two can forgive the compilers the inclusion of sub-par recordings, when we are exposed to so many other beautiful pieces for the first time.

It probably comes as a shock for some to hear that most people are not familiar with these classics. We may hear snippets on TV or movies, but are left with no idea as to the composer or historical context. With that in mind, it is extremely intimidating to begin buying classical. I suppose those among us, who so thoroughly dismissed the very notion of a boxed set like this, would have us begin by buying full albums by reputable interpreters. Surprisingly enough though, the majority of people would consider that a tad cost-prohibitive.

To conclude, this is a STARTER collection. It will either affirm a listener's feelings about classical music or lead to an interest in purchasing better recordings. Ideally, I suppose the interpretations would be better, but, for reasons mentioned above, that just isn't in the cards for a collection of this nature. If you're familiar with 50 different recordings of "The Ring" series, or have season tickets to the New York Philharmonic, then this probably isn't for you. For us cretins with limited foreknowledge of classical music though, it serves as a succinct introduction with little to complain about.

Karajan Forever: The Greatest Classical Hits

Average customer rating:

Classical music CD for everyone
... in a nutshell
Karajan Forever: The "Eternal" Classical Music Album
Meditation!

Karajan Forever: The Greatest Classical Hits

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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Karajan: Adagio
Famous Overtures
Albinoni: Adagio; Pachelbel: Canon
Romantic Adagio: Karajan
Karajan Conducts Grieg & Sibelius

ASIN: B00008CLNO
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

Spring - Michel Schwalbe
Adagio In G Minor For Strings And Organ - Leon Spierer
Valese
Menuetto
Morning Mood
Valse Triste
Symphony No. 40 In G Minor, K. 550 (Molto Allegro)
Symphony No. 9 'From The New World' In E Minor
Intermezzo
'Carmen' Suite, Prelude I (Allegro Giocoso)
Bolero (Conclusion)
'The Sleeping Beauty', Valse
'La Traviata', Prelude To Act III
Symphony No. 3 'Organ', In C Minor (Finale) - Pierre Cochereau

Tracks:

'Also Sprach Zarathustra' (Introduction)
'Cavalleria Rusticana', Intermezzo Sinfonico - Wolfgang Meyer
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Allegro)
Swan Lake, Suite Op. 20, Scene 1 (Swan Theme) - Michel Schwalbe
An Der Schonen, Blauen Donau
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major (1rst Movement)
Meditation - Michel Schwalbe
Badinerie From Suite No. 2 In B Minor - Karlheinz Zoeller
Barcarolle From 'La Gaiete Parisienne'
Piano Concerto No. 1 In B Flat Minor (Ex. 1rst Movement) - Lazar Berman
Adagietto From Symphony No. 5
Symphonie Classique (Finale. Molto Vivace)
Dance Of Teh Blessed Spirits From 'Orpheus And Eurydice - Karlheinz Zoeller
Danse De La Fee Dragee
Valse Des Fleurs

Customer Reviews:

Classical music CD for everyone.......2007-01-09

A great selection. I bought one for my husband, and later the other one for my parents.
Quality, and a superb selection of masterpieces.
A must have for classical music lovers, and for everyone who wants to get introduced to classical music.

... in a nutshell.......2006-09-08

Probably the best one-volume compilation of Karajan available, with the most broad-based approachable track list currently being offered to the general enthusiast/collector. Back in the vinyl days, there were two-disc sets available like the "Karajan Super Concert" or the three-volume "Karajan Conducts" set on Angel. Some of these have been re-arranged and re-released with new or different cover art on CD too, but here is a newly remastered set just as good or better than any of those.

It also contains probably the best short essay on what Herbert von Karajan was all about by Axel Bruggemann, that I have ever read. A CD or two of the "Adagio" set by this conductor (also on DG) may be a nice supplement too, otherwise you can't really go wrong with this two-disc set at a fairly affordable price.

Karajan Forever: The "Eternal" Classical Music Album.......2005-09-26

Another fine recording of classical music, as conducted by the man considered to be the greatest conductor of the 20th century- Herbert Von Karajan, whose position as conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic made that particular orchestra unbeatable and at number one in the list of world's greatest orchestras. Karajan was involved with the Berlin Philharmonic's musical development for years, until his death in 89, before the Berlin Wall fell, an event he did not live to see. This recording has to the best of Karajan's many collected classical pieces on record. It is a perfect introduction to classical music itself and to Karajan's style. A plethora of composer and time periods- from Baroque, to Classical to Romantic- are all on here. Vivaldi's Spring opens the CD, and is followed by the melancholy and fatalistic sounding Baroque classic Albinoni Adagio in G. This is followed by Mozart's 40th symhony. The first Romantic Era symphony on here is Dvorak's famous New World Symphony, which Karajan conducts with supreme mastership. The Intermezzo from the verisimo opera Cavalleria Rusticana is on here and sounds absolutely breathtaking. The suite of Bizet's Carmen is musically intoxicating and the Bolero has never sounded hotter, except for maybe Zubin Mehta conducting it which I've heard live and know is absolutely wonderful. The famous Waltz from Tchaikovsky's ballet masterpiece Sleeping Beauty is on here as well as the Third Act Prelude to Verdi's Traviata. The final track on CD 1 is Saint Saens Organ Symphony Finale.

The second disc opens with a masterful version of the powerfully evocative Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss, another Austrian composer Karajan championed. The Swan Theme from Swan Lake is on here, as well as the Viennese Waltz favorite On the Beautiful Blue Danube- something I didn't know Karajan even conducted. But being Austrian, I'm not surprised. Karajan even conducted Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaus as well as other waltzes. Back to Baroque, he continues with the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 by Bach and the gorgeous and somewhat gloomy Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Orpheus and Eurydice by Gluck. The CD ends with the elegant and beautiful Waltz of the Flowers from Tchaikovsky's Nutracker. This is a must have for fans of classical music, as a lot of favorites are on here.

Meditation!.......2003-07-20

A veritable who's who of pieces & composers, the CDs Karajan Forever will hopefully live forever.
Herbert VonKarajan was the conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic from 1955 until his demise in 1989. His vision & helmsmanship of this magnificent orchestra have literally changed the way a whole generation heard music.

Tracks:

Concerto No. 1 For Violin And Orchestra in D Major, Op. 19: Andantino - Andante Assai
Concerto No. 1 For Violin And Orchestra in D Major, Op. 19: Scherzo - Vivacissimo
Concerto No. 1 For Violin And Orchestra in D Major, Op. 19: Moderato
Concerto No. 2 For Violin And Orchestra In G Minor, Op. 63: Allegro Moderato
Concerto No. 2 For Violin And Orchestra In G Minor, Op. 63: Andante Assai
Concerto No. 2 For Violin And Orchestra In G Minor, Op. 63: Allegro, Ben Marcato

Customer Reviews:

Stern at his best`.......2007-03-22

Stern's playing of the second movement of no. 2 is so wonderful that he even outshines Heifetz's version. I never thought I'd ever say that because I'm a Heifetz "worshiper."
G. Miller

"Old Friends are the Best Friends...".......2007-01-10

I don't know if it's because this is the recording of the Prokofiev violin concerti that I "grew up" with, or that I heard Isaac Stern perform the First Concerto live, but I haven't heard a recording that captures this piece as well. Mr. Stern's playing is sweet when needed, acidic when called for and with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Ormandy brings both pieces to life gloriously.

Simply beautiful!.......2003-05-20

What I love about Prokofieff's concerti are their connection to the musicality of each one. What I mean by that is that the solo instrument is woven into the melodic event of the piece itself instead of the orchestra being an accompaniment. Stern and Ormandy have colaborated for many redordings and this one rates among their mesmerizing best.

What is it about the Russian composers that have this brooding and melancholy feel to their works? Prokofieff's towering symhonies and concerti are so emotionally strong and vibrant and telling but still the underlying melancholy and no more beautifully expressed than in these two concertos. The way Maestroes Stern and Ormandy weave their parts together is so wonderful. So soft and then so powerful.

If you want to hear Prolofieff at his most somber and telling buy this recording. As the other reviewer said,'lay back and let it sink' into your soul(that's my addition) because that is where Prokofieff leads you.

Wonderful recording

Exquisite!.......2002-10-15

The Prokofiev Violin Concertos No. 1 and No. 2 are two of the most ethereal and spiritual pieces I have ever heard. Issac Stern seems to understand the exquisitwe beauty of the pieces and does everything he can to convey this beauty without getting in the way. Stern and Ormandy do it the best possible way. Very respectfully. And exquisitely! Lay down, listen, and allow youself to be transported and swept away...

Prokofiev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Violin Sonata No. 2

Average customer rating:

Prokofiev does not get much better
Incredible Music, Incredibly Played
Oistrakh is a master, but these interpretations are low key
Great addition to a music lover's collection...
Brilliant, But Collectors Beware

Prokofiev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Violin Sonata No. 2

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

The Devil's Trill: Showpieces for violin & piano
Great Recordings Of The Century - Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Brahms: Double Concerto / Oistrakh, Rostropovich, Richter
Brahms: Violin Concerto; Violin Sonata No. 3
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No1, Op107; Violin Concerto No1 (revised), Op99
Prokofiev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

ASIN: B0002VEPNU
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Tracks:

I: Andantino
II: Scherzo (Vivacissimo)
III: Moderato
I: Allegro Moderato
II: Andante Assai
III: Allegro, Ben Marcato
I. Moderato
II: Scherzo (Presto)
III: Andante
IV: Allegro Con Brio

Customer Reviews:

Prokofiev does not get much better.......2007-01-10

A brilliant performance by possibly the best violinist of his generation and, since he was Russian, Oistrakh has a real feel for the elemental Russian-ness of the music

Incredible Music, Incredibly Played.......2006-07-12

This is a really great Cd, for many reasons. Firstly, the music itself is incredible. Prokofiev's First Violin Concerto is a great piece of music. In many ways, it is typical Prokofiev, exciting, quirky, abrasive. But at other times, it is so ethereal and beautiful. The orchestra part is very light and transparent, which allows each individual instrument to shine in its own way (particularly in the spectacular scherzo). The 2nd Violin Sonata was originally a flute sonata, but Oistrakh (who was a good friend of Prokofiev) helped him transcribe it for violin. A flautist friend of mine who was writing a college paper about Prokofiev told me that she read that the flautist who premiered the sonata was drunk at the time, which prompted Oistrakh to declare he could play the piece much better. I don't know if that's actually true, but if I've read enough Dostoevsky that it doesn't seem too far fetched for a Russian (just kidding!). It's very neo-classical in form, which provides a nice canvas for Prokofiev's often humorous writing (compared to the much more intense 1st Violin Sonata - also a wonderful piece). I don't like the 2nd Violin Concerto as much. It's not a bad piece, but I don't think its as memorable as either of the other two pieces.

Oistrakh's playing, as usual, is impeccable. His tone is full and beautiful in every register and he navigates the speedy Scherzo of the 1st concerto with more clarity than any other player I've heard. I don't think that Oistrakh's playing is too tame on this disc. I think we often attribute the craziness with which many violinist play these pieces to being intentional or purely for effect. On the other hand, I think in many cases it may simply be a product of how difficult the music is. It's much harder to play this music cleanly and controlled than it is to rip through it "crazily" (although I also enjoy that approach - check out Josefowicz's recording for a much crazier rendition). However, I don't think that Oistrakh's uncanny technical mastery is a hinderance to his expressive abilities. On the other hand, being such a technical good player allows him to phrase subtlely and tastefully at all times, even when playing passages that would have most other violinst simply hoping to get through it.

I don't like referring to any given recording as a benchmark or definitive this or that... I think all artists have something different to offer (which is how I justify buying so many different versions of the same pieces...). However, if I HAD to declare one recording the best, I think this would have to be it. Enjoy!

Oistrakh is a master, but these interpretations are low key.......2006-07-10

The Gramohone says that Oistrakh's playing was 'a calming influence in an agitated world,' which encapsulates how his admirers feel about an artist whose interpretations could be decidedly low-key and overly controlled. Rarely is Oistrakh willing to surrender his immaculate technique for the sake of spontaneity or visceral excitement (of course, thre are exceptions--no one made as many recordings or as many multiple copies of a single work).

These mono concerto recordings from EMI's archive show his tone and technique off to excellent effect, although the orchestras are a bit too far back to have an impact. Oistrakh used the Prokofiev First as a specialty piece, and here he sounds completely at ease, spinning out lyric lines and fast passagework with effortlessness and exquisite tonal sheen. I'd like to hear more imaginaiton, not to mention passionate involvement, which is largely missing here, and Matacic's accompaniment is good without equaling what the soloist is doing. The Second Concerto under Galliera is lackluster in the orchestral part, and Oistrakh doesn't seem as involved, either.

I think modern Russian virtuosos, particularly Vengerov in his acclaimed recordings with Rostropovich (Teldec), are nearly Oistrakh's equal in technique and surpass him in excitement, not to meniton recorded sound. But there is a unique finesse to his playing that no one has matched, and if that appeals to you, these are very worthwhile documents. The Second Sonata with Yampolsky is in good stereo and is just as beautifully executed as the concertos.

Great addition to a music lover's collection..........2005-04-23

...just as long as you're starting it. You may only want to read this if you're new to this music because the past reviewer has wisely mentioned it, this has been previously released, and sometimes if your collection grows, it's difficult to keep track of the CDs you own, so careful! Now, if you are new to REAL music, it's a great choice, even more so for a violinist, since it features a must-listen piece: Prokofiev's beautiful No2 concerto performed by the magnificent David Oistrakh, one of the most recognizable names among violinists. Concerto No1, though shorter than most other violin concertos, is also worth listening; plus, it has the violin sonata No2 as a bonus! So if you're a newbie to classical music then by all means buy it, and don't stop there! After that get Tchaikovsky's violin concerto and the Brandenburg Concerts and Mozart's operas and...

Brilliant, But Collectors Beware.......2005-01-06

These mono recordings of Prokofiev's Violin Concertos are nothing short of brilliant, and despite their mono sound, are in the opinion of many the best accounts ever recorded. The problem is serious collectors most likely already own two-thirds of the contents of this disc. You see, in the past EMI has licensed out many of their more specialized performances to a British company called Testament. The very same performances featured here of the Concerto No.1 and Violin Sonata No. 2 were previously issued on Testament's SBT 1116 (see my review) & 1113 CDs respectively. While novice fans stumbling upon this CD in the bins at their local store could care less about this fact, it is a major problem for serious collectors like myself. It is often hard enough to avoid purchasing duplicate material on the same record label with the numerous reissues that have drifted in an out-of-print over the years, let alone encountering the same music on different labels. Though coming from a jazz background, I shouldn't be surprised with EMI's tactics. This is the same kind of thing they do all the time with Mosaic Records -- authorizing the production of limited edition boxed sets then when the Mosaic edition sells out, re-releasing the same music as single titles on their own brand. In fact, I know of at least one other upcoming release, the Guido Cantelli offering in EMI's "Great Artists of the Century" series, that will duplicate yet another Testament title -- "The Debussy Recordings" SBT 1011 (see my review). So in summary, EMI has produced some great reissues lately, just make sure you don't already own them.

A Celebration of Defining Moments in Recording History

Average customer rating:

Interesting, and so cheap!
Not that great

A Celebration of Defining Moments in Recording History

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

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French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique Op14; Damnation of Faust Op24
Lakme
Dutilleux: Cello Concerto, Lutoslawski: Cello Concerto

ASIN: B0002VEQIY
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Tracks:

Sinfonietta - Simon Rattle
El Combat Del Somni - Victoria De Los Angeles
Piano Concerto - Sviatoslav Richter
Don Giovanni - Carlo Maria Giulini
Eroica - Otto Klemperer
Gymnopedies - Aldo Ciccolini
Don Carlo - Placido Domingo
24 Caprices - Itzhak Perlman
Liederkreis Op.39 - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Cello Concerto - Sir John Barbirolli
Alborada Del Gracioso - Dinu Lipatti
'Peter Grimes' - Andre Previn
Das Lied Von Der Erde - Otto Klemperer
Violin Concerto No.1 - David Oistrakh
Boris Godunov - Boris Christoff
Piano Concerto No.22 - Annie Fischer
La Boheme - Jussi Bjorling
Symphony No.2 'Resurection' - Otto Klemperer

Tracks:

Bachianas Brasileiras - Heitor Villa-Lobos
Die Zauberflote - Herbert Von Karajan
Preludes II - Walter Gieseking
Symphonie Fantastique - Sir Thomas Beecham
Il Trovatore - Maria Callas
String Quartet - Alban Berg Quartett
Wesendonck-Lieder - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Horn Concerto No.3 - Dennis Brain
Fidelio - Otto Klemperer
Piano Concerto In G - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Kindertotenlieder - Bruno Walter
Dialogues Des Carmelites - Pierre Dervaux
Violin Concerto - Yehudi Menuhin
Salome - Herbert Von Karajan
Tout Un Monde Lointain... - Mstislav Rostropovich
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia - Vittorio Gui
Fantasia On 'Greensleeves' - Sir John Barbirolli
Die Lustige Witwe - Nicolai Gedda
Symphony No.9 'Choral' - Wilhelm Furtwangler

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, and so cheap!.......2005-03-17

In response to the reviewer below, yes, some of the recordings do not have the best sound quality. But that's not what this is about, it's about great recordings of the century.
There are two discs, each with about 18 tracks, averaging about 4 minutes each, of excerpts and individual movements of the some of the most famous of the 150 "GROCs."

In the booklet it has a few interesting (sometimes not that interesting) facts about each of the 150 performances.

If you don't mind excerpts of pieces or isolated movements, this would be a worthwhile purchase, especially for the bizarrely reasonable price.

Not that great.......2004-11-19

If this is supposed to be an album of "the greatest" -- I wasn't too impressed. The quality didn't seem that good and the selections, well, not all that popular to my mind.

Prokofiev: Symphony Nos. 1 & 3/Violin Concerto No.1

Average customer rating:

Prokofiev: Symphony Nos. 1 & 3/Violin Concerto No.1

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Average customer rating:

Best Recordings of Prokofiev's Violin Concertos Out There!

Prokofiev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Manufacturer: Artek
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Ravel: Tzigane; Sonata for violin
Solovision
Hilary Hahn: A Portrait
Mozart: Violin Sonatas K. 301, 304, 376 & 526
Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1; Spohr: Violin Concerto No. 8

ASIN: B000777I7E
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Customer Reviews:

Best Recordings of Prokofiev's Violin Concertos Out There!.......2006-03-30

Jennifer Frautschi's performances of the two Violin Concertos of Prokofiev are simply the best you'll ever hear. Most performances of this work display showmanship or precision instead of graceful poise, giving it a more mechanical sound than it should have. Frautschi brings great warmth and expressiveness to the lyrical outer movements of the First Concerto, making them sound more magical than ever. Her sweet, yet strong, tone creates a unique sound that emphasizes the fantasy of this work. This approach succeeds in highlighting Prokofiev's Romantic side, instead of his modernism. Frautschi's colorful playing also reminds the listener that Prokofiev was, indeed, a student of Rimsky-Korsakov! Her inner movement is virtuosic, though not as fast as some other recordings, which is in keeping with her overall conception of the concerto. The accompaniment of the Seattle Symphony under the direction of Gerard Schwartz perfectly complements Frautschi's approach, and together they capture the essence of this work like few others have.

The Second Concerto is again played with great beauty and warmth by Frautschi, displaying her obvious agility with the violin in its varied sound-possibilities. This work combines lyricism with a more humorous exploration of the concerto form. Parts of the first and third movements are reminiscent of some film music, while other sections are evocative of Prokofiev's own "Romeo and Juliet" ballet score. The second movement is one of the most beautiful lyrical passages that Prokofiev ever wrote and Frautschi's playing is as heartwarming as one could possibly ask. Frautschi obviously understands this work and so do the orchestra and conductor, which provide fervent orchestral playing throughout. Other recent accounts of these works, while admirable, do not match Frautschi's warm expressivism and sweet, but firm, intonation. The sound quality throughout is deep and satisfying, favoring the violinist, which is a good thing, since it truly is her show!

In sum, you should consider this CD a must have if you are a fan of these concertos and, even if not, you will likely be enraptured by Frautschi's mesmerizing violin playing and the unique sound-world created by these works. We should keep a lookout for recordings by Jennifer Frautschi, who has proven herself (in this, her orchestral debut) to be one of the most promising violinists on the scene today.

[Later note, January 24, 2007: After hearing Jennifer Frautschi's jaw-dropping performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto--one of the most notoriously difficult to play--at a concert with the Rhode Island Philharmonic a few days ago, I can unhesitatingly declare that she most certainly is one of the greatest talents on the classical violin scene today, irrespective of age. She played the most difficult solo parts with ease and she brought a beautiful tone to the work throughout. Her opening of the concerto was truly astonishing, topping even Anne-Sophie Mutter's highly praised account, while her virtuosity in the final movement--coming immediately after a passionate slow movement--was limitless. I am waiting for her to receive a bit more general recognition from the powers that be in the classical world. She is as good a violinist as they get!]

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Prokofiev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Violin Sonata No. 2

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000DIGJJ
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Tracks:

I Andantino
II Scherzo (Vivacissimo)
III Moderato
I Allegro Moderato
II Andante Assai - Allegretto - Andante Assai
III Allegro Ben Marcato
I Moderato
II Presto - Poco Meno Mosso - Tempo I
III Andante
IV Allegro Con Brio - Poco Meno Mosso - Tempo I - Poco Meno Mosso - Allegro Con Brio

First Steps in Classical Music: Keeping the Beat

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First Steps in Classical Music: Keeping the Beat

Manufacturer: Gia Publications
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Prokfiev: Romeo & Juliet; Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5; Violin Concerto [Germany]

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Prokfiev: Romeo & Juliet; Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5; Violin Concerto [Germany]
Tacchino , Ricci , Varga , Froment , and Radio Luxemburg Orchestra
Manufacturer: Quadromania Klassik
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00022USTE
Release Date: 2006-05-03

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