Mozart Violin Concertos

[vinteuil]

I'm largely with Caliban here. I enjoy the copies of the violin ctos I do have (Huggett / OAE ; Stephanie Chase / Hanover Band in 3 & 5 plus sinf conc K364) - but find I pluck them off the shelves far less often than I do the piano ctos.

[Barbirollians]

My first such purchase was Oistrakh/PO in No 3 with Gilels/PO/Ludwig in Beethoven piano concerto No 4 on the other side. Some coupling at Concert Classics prices c1972!

While I've now got a fair few recordings of No 3 and the others, including Oistrakh's BPO complete set, it's this one that holds my affections. Though to be honest, when I want to hear a Mozart string concerto these days my fingers would always reach towards the Sinfonia Concertante

I think that one is on the fabulous Forte reissue that included his Prokofiev 2 and the earlier recordings of the Brahms Double with Fournier and the Triple Concerto with Oborin and Kneshevitsky

[LeMartinPecheur]

I think that one is on the fabulous Forte reissue that included his Prokofiev 2 and the earlier recordings of the Brahms Double with Fournier and the Triple Concerto with Oborin and Kneshevitsky

Hmm, tempting, tho' I have the Prok on a treasured LP, not spoilt by my late father's comment when hearing its 3rd movement, "It'll never replace music!"

[ He and Simon - see the Xenakis thread - might have found something in common - now there's a thought!]

[richardfinegold]

I am still partial to the Oistrakh recordings, as unfasionable as they are.

[Barbirollians]

This is the set - wonderful http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Tr...sim_sbs_m_h__1

[gurnemanz]

The Alexander Gibson/Henryk Szeryng set with New Philharmonia Orchestra was among my favourite LPs in my early days of record collecting. I have very fond memories but haven't heard then for ages. There is a marvellous Joseph Szigeti recording of No 4 with the LPO from 1934 but sounding great. I acquired it a couple of years ago via this cheapo Beecham box.

[jayne lee wilson]

I might give it another listen.... .... just because it's you...

That's very sweet Cal., just when I needed it. Thanks.

[Barbirollians]

It is indeed exquisite . I feel very much the same about the slow movement of the Third Concerto.

[verismissimo]

I love these works and feel they are somewhat underrated . The fact they were written by a 19 year old always strikes me as astonishing .

We don't seem to have addressed Barbie's main point much.

One reason for their comparative neglect, compared with, say, the "great" violin concertos, is that they are so understated. Several of them end quietly, not with the crash bang wallop.

What's more, while they are extremely felicitous IMO, they predate all M's mature piano concertos, only his first proper one K175 coming earlier.

[Andrew Preview]

I find I pluck them off the shelves far less often than I do the piano ctos.

I'd second that, although I also agree with Barbirollians that the violin concertos are underrated. I have Grumiaux/Davis, Fischer/Kreizberg and Ehnes. I find Fischer and colleagues a shade too aggressive in these works. Grumiaux is terrific, but I'd give the nod to Ehnes. Pity he hasn't recorded the Sinfonia Concertante. Now, there is a work to set alongside the piano concertos - and I've never found a fully satisfactory version of it.

[Nick Armstrong]

That's very sweet Cal., just when I needed it. Thanks.

You are most welcome

I did play the movement... it's lovely, and it's true that I'm less familiar with it than with the rest, I wonder why... But it doesn't stop me in my tracks.

Incidentally, I find I also have all the concertos by Oistrakh. Had a big Oistrakh phase in the 90s...

[Zucchini]

Had a big Oistrakh phase in the 90s...

How awful.

I don't do dead performers so as usual most of this thread is of little interest to me. I mainly agree with you Caliban that these works aren't showstoppers. Not long ago I heard Isabelle Faust (who I much admire) play and direct No.3 & to me it was all terribly well-mannered tautology - the violin matchng the orchestra perfectly and vice versa ad nauseam. Like a weak cup of Darjeeling tea & a quarter of a slice of bread with a morsel of peeled cucumber on it.

I've also heard the lovely Baiba Skride play one under Andris Nelsons & that was good. He pushed her to say something positive & she responded with panache & deep serenity as needed.

My often played CD set is Anne Sofie Mutter's latest, directed by herself with 26 or so LPO players. I love it - I find her playing technically astonishing, dazzlingly bright, haughty, vain & aristocratic. But some people might argue that she pulls the slow movements about too much. A super Sinfonia Concertante with Yuri Bashmet.

[Barbirollians]

What is the point of saying " I don't do dead performers " - does their work suddenly become worthless and unlistenable the moment they draw their last . Is it because you will never have the chance to hear them in concert ?

It reminds me of Nigel Kennedy's soon to be abandoned dictum of not playing music by dead blokes .

I am particularly sorry for anyone who deprives themself of listening to Oistrakh's recordings on such grounds.

[akiralx]

What is the point of saying " I don't do dead performers " - does their work suddenly become worthless and unlistenable the moment they draw their last . Is it because you will never have the chance to hear them in concert ?

It reminds me of Nigel Kennedy's soon to be abandoned dictum of not playing music by dead blokes .

I am particularly sorry for anyone who deprives themself of listening to Oistrakh's recordings on such grounds.

I would tend to agree - though on this forum there seems to be a bit of a bias in favour of dead artists, with living ones rather dismissed (or perhaps ignored).

I was pondering this for a while, and to be honest I can't think of many works where my favourite recorded version isn't by a living artist.

[Nick Armstrong]

What is the point of saying " I don't do dead performers "

Strong whiff of the troll about that quoted post, I'd say...