Ray Chen- Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn Concertos - worthy of the hype ?

[Barbirollians]

I did not need this record . I was won over by rave reviews in the music press and Amazon selling it for £6.

Anyone else heard it ? He plays beautifully and the accompaniment is sympathetic and alert .

I just feel on first listenings that the Mendelssohn is more of a success than the Tchaikovsky . There are a number of hesitations and lingerings in the first movement of the latter in particular that may pall on repeated listening. For sheer excitement he is not a match for that sizzling Ida Haendel performance on Hanssler Classics.

The Mendelssohn is very light on its feet and the finale is a delight but it does not to these ears penetrate to the heart of the music like say Menuhin with Furtwangler and Kurtz or Perlman/Haitink.

[Barbirollians]

I have been giving this record a few more spins and I think I understand why the critics liked it so much . It is a bit of a slowburner but the Tchaikovsky is growing on me , When themes reappear he does not play the music in entirely the same way and I rather like that lack of going through the motions . It is in fact a very well thought out performance .

The Mendelssohn is delightful - OK he may not find pain in the slow movement like Menuhin but there is a great deal of charm and a touch of Midsummer' Night Dream about his playing of the finale . Excellent and highly recommended .

[pastoralguy]

I bought both the Chen and the new recording from Vilda Frang and played the first movt. 'blind' to a friend last week and he much prefered the Frang recording. I thought the Chen was better but possibly because Sony's recording is, IMHO, better than the rather dim EMI soundscape. (It reminded me of the Nigel Kennedy disc which needs a lot of volume to make it sound enticing). I also thought Chen's accomplices were better.

The Tchaikovsky is one of my top 3 fav. pieces and I try to hear all the latest performances of it. I agree Ida Haendel is superb (well I would, wouldn't I!?) but Igor Oistrakh under his father is my all time bench mark.

[Barbirollians]

How was Frang in the Nielsen ? I was looking forward to that .

[Ariosto]

(It reminded me of the Nigel Kennedy disc which needs a lot of volume to make it sound enticing). I also thought Chen's accomplices were better.

The Brahms concerto with Kennedy and Tenstedt could be described like that but I love the performance from these two wonderful musicians (YES, I'm praising a conductor) - the slower tempos, and the violin/orchestra mix. It convinces me that this is one excellent way to do Brahms, and very different.

The Tchaikovsky is one of my top 3 fav. pieces and I try to hear all the latest performances of it. I agree Ida Haendel is superb (well I would, wouldn't I!?) but Igor Oistrakh under his father is my all time bench mark.

For me it is David Oistrakh - Philadelpia - Ormandy that does it.

[pastoralguy]

The Neilson is very good indeed. I have to admit that it's not my favourite concerto but she certainly 'sells' it. I'm very impressed with this young artist and have enjoyed the 3 discs she has recorded so far. (I also heard her play the Brahms in Perth with the BBCSSO and she was very good).

I would certainly recommend this disc and it'll be pretty cheap soon.

[pastoralguy]

For me it is David Oistrakh - Philadelpia - Ormandy that does it.

Yes, that's a wonderful recording. (There are so many recordings of him in this work).

In fact, I'm going to go listen to it now!

[Barbirollians]

I am with your friend PG - I played the Frang this morning and although I agree the accompaniment is rather more routine I thought she was marvellous throughout . She seemed to have lots more to say about the music to my ears than Chen in the Tchaikovsky good as he is and her Nielsen is up there with Cho Liang Lin's superb recording with Salonen.

One thing EMI should be congratulated on is providing proper notes on the music by David Fanning as compared with very short notes and loads of puff on the Sony .

[Barbirollians]

On repeated listenings I think Frang's record is one of the best I have heard this year . The Nielsen is stupendous ( just listen to her in the second movemnet cadenza ) and would run off with the BAL despite Lin/Salonen and the Tchaikovsky is fascinating there is a delicacy and vulnerability to her playing ( though technically she is immaculate) yet it is in no sense underpowered . It really captures the attention from first bar to last .

[Barbirollians]

A rather lukewarm review from Nigel Simeone in IRR today for Chen - I think I liked it more than him but less than the BBC MM and Gramophone reviewers .

[Alison]

After three listenings I still can't get wholly excited about the Tchaikovsky and yet I am drawn back
to give it another go. Had I listened blind I would have suspected a female soloist I think.

Nigel Simeone probably has it about right, especially in his assessment of the accompaniment,
'detailed and alert but hardly electrifying'.

(Not listened to the Mendelssohn yet)

[Barbirollians]

After three listenings I still can't get wholly excited about the Tchaikovsky and yet I am drawn back
to give it another go. Had I listened blind I would have suspected a female soloist I think.

Nigel Simeone probably has it about right, especially in his assessment of the accompaniment,
'detailed and alert but hardly electrifying'.

(Not listened to the Mendelssohn yet)

I know what you mean . I keep wondering if I am missing something .