BaL 18.11.23 - Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D

[Ein Heldenleben]

I agree about Kennedy, I've met him after a concert and he's a really pleasant natural guy.
As to the best version, well it has to be Oistrakh but I have a soft spot for the Konwitschny version, my 3rd LP in the 1960s. Having said that the Ormandy and 60th birthday Rozhdestvensky are very very good too, it was one of many works he excelled in.

He is an incredibly charming man and was so polite to us when we interrupted his outdoor violin practice at a hotel we were staying in . He took an interest in my son’s grade 2 violin and invited us all backstage at his next Proms, We didn’t make that but did see him locally where he again charmed an audience which , for once , included many teenagers. He also played superbly - a very difficult programme of solo Bach in the first section.

[Sir Velo]

But these days, especially listening to high res at 96/24 or even 192/24, there are outstanding recordings being made - if you haven’t listened to Nelsons’ Boston Shostakovich cycle, you really should. Suggest starting with 4 and 11 - possibly the best recordings ever made by a mainstream company. I think they do outclass anything from decades ago, however agreeable and listenable many of those may be.

Thanks for this recommendation: I have to agree that the sound quality is absolutely astonishing. The performance of the 11th had me absolutely riveted to my chair, those minatory timps, bass drum and searing snare drum in the Bloody Sunday section are overwhelming. I also listened on quality 'phones and the level of detail is just amazing, as is the dynamic range. This would count for nothing if the performances weren't also among the most electrifying and emotionally draining that you could ever wish (?) to hear. I can see that I'm going to have to make acquaintance with the rest of the cycle.