The Prokofiev Violin Concertos

[Barbirollians]

I got to know these works through the Perlman EMI recording and did not really like that record all that much . Perlman just far too forwardly balanced .

Much preferred Shaham /Previn but have now discovered Chung/Previn's Decca recordings and these strike me as utterly marvellous .

Any other favourites ? I know I must get Oistrakh's recordings.

[Colonel Danby]

It's got to be Lydia Mordkovitch with the RSNO under Järvi, as adjunct to his complete Symphonies on Chandos. Beautifully played and an all round success, even though 47 minutes for both concertos is a bit short measure in this day and age. (CHAN 8709).

[antongould]

I would never be without my Heifetz No. 2 Desert Island Discs stuff!

[mikealdren]

Oistrakh is incomparable in No 1, I have a personal preference for his 1953 recording with Kondrashin. He creates the most amazing atmosphere and the colour in his playing shines through the transcends the poor recording quality.
If you want a modern recording, Vilde Frang's recent version is very good.

Heifetz plays the 2nd concerto magnificently in both his recordings although he does take the slow movement very quickly. Somehow I've never quite taken to Oistrakh's recording, it's very well played but it doesn't compel me to listen. Vadim Repin's recording is a modern favourite.

Dmitri Sitkovetsky's performances are good too and you can get them very cheaply coupled with the two Shostakovitch concerti.
Mike

[Ferretfancy]

I particularly enjoy Joshua Bell's recording with the Montreal SO and Dutoit, and the sound is beautiful.

[amateur51]

I'm sad & amazed to find that the recordings by Kyung-Wha Chung and LSO/Previn don't appear to be available - I heard them at the Proms in the 70s and they were remarkable.

I also have fond memories of Milstein's recordings of both concertos but I see that this too is unavailable at present.

I've always had a soft spot for the Szigeti performance of no.1 with LPO/Beecham which I'm delighted to find is available on Naxos and sounding good - Presto lets you listen to sizeable extracts

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/search.php?searchString=Prokofiev+Szigeti+beecham

Many thanks for the advice on more modern recordings and for the Oistrakh and Heifetz recommendations.

[BBMmk2]

I have Maxim Vengerov. Totally committed and well focused.

[umslopogaas]

Chung's version is unavailable? That's odd, but copies should be around, it must be a very recent deletion. Only a year ago, in the 2010 Penguin Guide it was one of the recommended versions.

[Petrushka]

Chung's version together with a very fine Stravinsky VC is most certainly available:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prokofiev-Stravinsky-Violin-Concertos/dp/B0000041V4/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1318701981&sr=1-1-spell

Great disc - don't hesitate.

[amateur51]

Many thanks Petrushka, my mistake - I still have the LP but I've ordered the CD today

[Parry1912]

I have Maxim Vengerov. Totally committed and well focused.

One of my favourites along with Mintz/Abbado

[Barbirollians]

i have been getting to know Isaac Stern's earliest accounts with Mitropoulos in No 1 and Bernstein in No 2 - they might not have the sheer charm of Chung but they are terrifically played and accompanied .

[Pulcinella]

i have been getting to know Isaac Stern's earliest accounts with Mitropoulos in No 1 and Bernstein in No 2 - they might not have the sheer charm of Chung but they are terrifically played and accompanied .

I assume that you know the Stern performances with Ormandy and the Philadelphia, Barby?

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=9596

I had not heard the concertos until a fellow student treated me to the LP as a thank you for dinner when he found out that I didn't know them. I was very pleased to find the CD release, having had only the Decca Chung (c/w Stravinsky) versions on CD for a long time, as it brought back lots of student memories.

[Barbirollians]

I assume that you know the Stern performances with Ormandy and the Philadelphia, Barby?

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=9596

I had not heard the concertos until a fellow student treated me to the LP as a thank you for dinner when he found out that I didn't know them. I was very pleased to find the CD release, having had only the Decca Chung (c/w Stravinsky) versions on CD for a long time, as it brought back lots of student memories.

No I don't to my shame - and I understand there was also a later set with Mehta . Regrettably Sony have deleted all his recordings on CD unless they are in enormous boxes - everything else is only available as a download now .Considering the high prices secondhand you might have thought that was a hint there might be a demand for them .

No doubt the bean counters have done their sums but the success of Australian Eloquence suggests there is a strong market for reissues on single CDs still .

[Bryn]

No I don't to my shame - and I understand there was also a later set with Mehta . Regrettably Sony have deleted all his recordings on CD unless they are in enormous boxes - everything else is only available as a download now .Considering the high prices secondhand you might have thought that was a hint there might be a demand for them .

No doubt the bean counters have done their sums but the success of Australian Eloquence suggests there is a strong market for reissues on single CDs still .

The Stern/Ormandy can be found for download from QOBUZ and others. The later Mehta, when Stern's technique had seriously declined, can be found, used, for a few pound via amazon.co.uk. The Mehta also has the two Bartok Rhapsodies with Bernstein at the helm. They show Stern to much better advantage.