BaL 18.11.23 - Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D

[Barbirollians]

Chung/Previn if I had to choose just one.

[pastoralguy]

Just come across him after hearing a track on ClassicFM, a real character!

He’s just released the Beethoven concerto which sounds terrific.

[gurnemanz]

Last covered by BaL by Edward Greenfield in June 1987 but I don't know what he recommended on that occasion.

Neither do I, but in a Gramophone review of Xue-Wei with Salvatore Accardo and Philharmonia (1993 on now defunct ASV label) EG states that it lacks "the fantasy and mystery that Kyung-Wha Chung finds, but with his rich, full tone Xue-Wei brings out the sensuousness of the work with commanding virtuosity". Chung, as favoured above by Barbirollians, may well have been EG's BaL choice.

Xu-Wei is still a favourite of mine. I think it was my first CD purchase of the work ... possibly based at least in part on that EG review

[richardfinegold]

Perhaps they should have a special subsection for recordings by players who can trace their lineage back to Leopoldo Auer, such as Elman , Heifetz,Milstein, Spivakovsky, Stern…

[cloughie]

Perhaps they should have a special subsection for recordings by players who can trace their lineage back to Leopoldo Auer, such as Elman , Heifetz,Milstein, Spivakovsky, Stern…

My first recording of the concerto was Spivaokosky on WRC. I remember it as a very lively performance but that was some years ago!

[Barbirollians]

Neither do I, but in a Gramophone review of Xue-Wei with Salvatore Accardo and Philharmonia (1993 on now defunct ASV label) EG states that it lacks "the fantasy and mystery that Kyung-Wha Chung finds, but with his rich, full tone Xue-Wei brings out the sensuousness of the work with commanding virtuosity". Chung, as favoured above by Barbirollians, may well have been EG's BaL choice.

Xu-Wei is still a favourite of mine. I think it was my first CD purchase of the work ... possibly based at least in part on that EG review

Yes I saw that when he reviewed Joshua Bell's recording in 1988 ( amazed he is that old ) that his chosen comparisons were Chung and Nige but Chung in the later recording with Dutoit.

[Barbirollians]

I suspect one might get a good deal more out of IGI's article in the January 2023 issue - when he chose the recent Lozakovich as his favourite shading out Kogan/Silvestri ( an absolute belter) Julia Fischer ( another superb record) and a couple of other accounts. Lozakovich is very fine - not sure I would quite put it that high up albeit his Canzonetta is lovely . Would go for the Ormandy conducted Oistrakh as another great favourite.

[mikealdren]

Perhaps they should have a special subsection for recordings by players who can trace their lineage back to Leopoldo Auer, such as Elman , Heifetz,Milstein, Spivakovsky, Stern…

Or Gluzman who plays on Auer's violin?

[pastoralguy]

Yes I saw that when he reviewed Joshua Bell's recording in 1988 ( amazed he is that old ) that his chosen comparisons were Chung and Nige but Chung in the later recording with Dutoit.

I saw ‘Nig’ play it at the old Kelvin Halls in Glasgow in, iirc, 1981. The only time I’ve ever seen a soloist get a standing ovation at the end of the first movement! The SNO were conducted by Christopher Seaman. (The SNO’s Proms were after the circus had been in the Hall so the scent of elephant dung was never far away! )

I was always a bit disappointed in his recording since it appeared to have been cut at such a low level one really had to crank the volume way up. I must listen again.

[Barbirollians]

Yes I saw Kennedy play the Tchaikovsky around 1984/5 in London and it was an outstanding performance. If I recall rightly the EMI Eminence record was conducted by Okko Kamu and the accompaniment did not quite take off . I only had it on cassette maybe it is more impressive on CD.

[richardfinegold]

Or Gluzman who plays on Auer's violin?

I forgot that. Now Iwill seek out his recording. Gluzman is the director of a yearly festival here and besides owning most of his other recordings I’ve seen him live many times

[pastoralguy]

Yes I saw Kennedy play the Tchaikovsky around 1984/5 in London and it was an outstanding performance. If I recall rightly the EMI Eminence record was conducted by Okko Kamu and the accompaniment did not quite take off . I only had it on cassette maybe it is more impressive on CD.

Sorry, Barbie. It’s no more impressive on cd. It’s possibly my favourite violin concerto and I’ve heard dozens of performances of it. The recordings that are less memorable tend to be the ones where the conductor isn’t really interested.

[Barbirollians]

I have just ordered a secondhand copy for a couple of quid . I was impressed by the Vengerov/BPO/Abbado another very cheap purchase. One ferney recommended - by the late Ralph Holmes was also very good.

Teldec did not stint on the expense of Vengerov's accompanists.

[richardfinegold]

There is a version, not on the list, that I have listened to with pleasure for many years,featuring the Concertmaster of the CSO, Robert Chen. It’s a bit less showy than some of the more well known versions here, but very soulful

[pastoralguy]

Nemanja Radulovic, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra under Sascha Goetzel on DG - currently my favourite and well reviewed by Gramophone, though I suspect it may not be mentioned...

Bump