Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

1. Jascha Heifetz/Fritz Reiner/Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Tchaikovsky & Brahms Violin Concertos

Once again, Heifetz brings his deep tone and unchallenged precision and virtuosity to this "virtuoso concerto" (Milstein's words). His first movement clocks in the fastest at 15:30, he gives a warm chilly interpretation of the 2nd canzonetta movement, and dashes through the 3rd mvmt with dead on precision and attitude galore. Although some might prefer a slower first movement, I think Tchaikovsky intended for the violinist to play happily in this movement, without over-sentimalizing. Heifetz brings his usual warm tone to the lyrical sections, and played with unmatched clarity and precision in the virtuosic sections. He uses the Auer version, which makes several changes, making the piece tougher, however I find Auer's changes more musically-accurate. Heifetz makes alterations to the cadenza, eg. scales in 6ths (super fast!) and an E major appergio done utilizing downbow staccato. Although Heifetz may sound rough at times, his intonation is chillingly the most precise of all and no one channels the virtuosity required for this piece better than Heifetz himself, who incidentally, performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto at age 11, a performance which inspired Milstein to learn under Auer.

Various Gramophones stock this amazing CD in Hybrid SACD format, which can play in a computer or normal CD player too, around 28 bucks. just email shop@gramophone.com.sg or go down to their Capitol Center store in City Hall, they have it I remember.

Recording quality - 8/10 (the Brahms is rather dry, recorded in 1954, the infancy of stereo)
Performance - 10/10


2. Nathan Milstein/William Steinberg/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Legend-Nathan Milstein - Tchaikovsky/Glazunov Violin Concertos

Oh well. If you must have a second choice, it's Milstein. I have three Milstein's of this concerto, however Milstein's accuracy isn't on par with Heifetz's, some sections are done imho rather sloppily, however his third movement still stands head and shoulders above the others, excluding possibly Heifetz's own. The recorded sound isn't very good for the Tchaikovsky, however the Glazunov is imho the best. Milstein outplayed Heifetz, Perlman, Zimmermann, Rabin with his silvery tone and dead on intonation (the rest have shaky intonation around the "Allegro" starting, and Heifetz just scratches the chords :) Thus get this for a good Tchaikovsky, and a great Glazunov. Oh and there is a bonus DVD attached, with excerpts of Milstein's EMI Classic Archive DVD, with a couple of Bach partitas and Novacek's Perpetum Mobile?, arranged by Milstein himself. HMV sells this for $34 (killer), however Borders CD section has it for $28.


Recording quality - 8/10 (Tchaikovsky is a bit dry, though Glazunov is greatly recorded)
Performance - 9/10


OTHERS


Milstein did a second take with Abbado i believe, on DG. However it isnt as accurate as his 1957 version?, though it boasts greater, more vivid recording quality. His mono recording is too unclear for enjoyment, and his 3rd movement there features a poorly done splice. Kyung Wha Chung's acclaimed one with Previn is nonsense to me. She can't play double stops clearly, making a mess out of the virtuoso sections, though her great phrasing shines through in the lyrical sections, the poorly done virtuoso sections puts a glaring red mark on this recording. And the recorded sound is quite dry too, thought I like her Sibelius coupled with his, it is nowhere near Heifetz's own and the double stopping in the first movement is harsh and unclear.

I also have Gil Shaham's on DG, Shaham takes a serious view of the 1st movement, which in turn leaves it dry and without any excitement, which seriously kills the movement, despite his golden-clear tone and accurate intonation. His 3rd movement is taken fast, however I find his spiccato not crisp enough, and intonation is at times shaky. though the sibelius coupled together with his Tchaikovsky is splendid, one of the best on record without a doubt. However get Heifetz's as he triumphs over Shaham in his Living Stereo accounts of both concertos. This disc is available from HMV Orchard at $28.50

I have Joshua Bell's latest Tchaikovsky with MTT (michael tilson thomas!) and the Berlin Philharmonic. He takes a VERY slow and exagerrated first movement (19:30!), however his 2nd movement is splendidly done. The third movement suffers from no lack of virtuosity, however the recorded sound isn't very good here. and Bell isnt as crisp as say Heifetz or Milstein. This disc is available at Gramophone in Hybrid SACD format at around $30, or maybe the CD Audio version is available for $20 at Gramophone too.

I have Vengerov/Abbado. Stay away from it, that man isnt a second Heifetz, and his phrasing and intonation is seriously screwed up. Its coupled with a much-to-be-desired Glazunov, which leaves impressions of scratchy chords and screwedup intonation in my mind after listening to it. dont. buy. it.

I have two versions of Perlman, with Ormandy in the studio and with some Russian conductor in the famous "Live in Russia" CD and DVD. He takes a stormy hot-blooded Russian view in his account in Russia (lol), taking the virtuosic sections fast and precise. His studio recording is excellent too, however I do not think he matches up to Heifetz in terms of intonation and technique. Though this two recordings probably take a 3rd place in my Tchaikovsky recordings catalogue.

Surprisingly I have made no mention of David Oistrakh, the Russian who particularly liked the Tchaikovsky concerto, and played it for his 60th birthday concert. I find Oistrakh schmaltzing throughout the 1st movement totally unappealing for me, though his third movement is as fine as Milstein's. I just can't get Oistrakh...haha....lol. Stick with Heifetz, he brings this work across with an excellence of execution and musicality that few others can match.

Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, op 26

Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, op 26

1. Jascha Heifetz/Sir Malcolm Sargent/New London Philharmonic - Bruch Violin Concerto No.1/Vieuxtemps Concerto No. 5/ Bruch Scottish Fantasy op 46

There is no competition for this piece at all. Heifetz is the only one who plays through the technically challenging first and third movements with 100% precision, accuracy, and musicality to boot. His 3rd movement (Allegro Energico) is unchallenged by all recordings and his dark tone is just the thing for Bruch's beautiful second movement and the haunting first movement, which is actually a prelude to the second movement. His Vieuxtemps 5 (off-topic!) is equally definitive, Milstein only recorded once (he had no use for the concertos of Wieniawski, Paganini, Vieuxtemps, Sibelius), but it is in mono and his muscality and phrasing is nowhere near heifetz's. No others can match Heifetz's precision of Vieuxtemps chillingly-virtuosic solo violin writing. and there is NO COMPETITION for his gorgeuos Scottish Fantasy either. Quoting an amazon reviewer, Heifetz is the only one who sounds like he's not trying in the challenging fourth movement (allegro guerriero), the rest are struggling. To me, this is one of my best Vk cds.


2. Itzhak Perlman/Bernard Haitink/Concertgebouw Orchestra- Mendelssohn/Bruch Violin Concertos

Oh well. If u must have a second choice, imho it's perlman. His tone is adequate for the first movement, sweet enough for the 2nd movement, and he takes the 3rd movement accurately enough, though it sounds forced at times. You could probably say he showed more musicality than Heifetz, though I disagree. And of course, his Mendelssohn is equally fine.


OTHERS

well, i have two of kyung-wha chung (with tennstedt and dunnowho), imho, the tone sounds superficial, esp in the 3rd mvmt, the double stops are just plain scratchy. try her acclaimed tchaik with previn, the double stops are soooo scratched that you can't even hear the notes! thus umm...get heifetz. yeah.


SPECIAL MENTION

Actually, Bruch wrote three violin concertos. Sadly, the 2nd ( op 44)and 3rd (op 58) are overshadowed by the popular first. Bruch himself cursed the enormous popularity of his first vln concerto, "as if I hadn't written other, equally good concertos!" Try Accardo-complete Bruch Concertos on Philips (2CD) for the complete vln concertos plus scottish fantasy. I like his Concerto No. 3 very much. Bruch was a melodist "melody is the soul of music" and he liked the violin very much though he wasn't a violinist "the violin can spin a melody". that set is available at $28.50 from HMV. Though his Concerto No. 1's recorded sound isnt as good as the rest, and there are some intonation flaws. but get it for the much neglected Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 58!

Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

haha ok inspired by my pro senior ruiheng (musicforleisure.blogspot.com) haha. k shall start reviewing CDs based on works.


MENDELSSOHN VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR OPUS 64

1. Jascha Heifetz/Charles Munch/Boston Symphony Orchestra- Mendelssohn/Beethoven Violin Concertos - RCA Living Stereo

There is only one perfect Mendelssohn, and it is Heifetz's 1959 recording with French conductor Charles Munch, coupled with his equally definitive rendition of the Beethoven Concerto, on RCA's LIVING STEREO Hybrid SACDs. Last time I checked, the gramophone at Parkway Parade stocks about 3 copies, (Audio CD), costing around $18. the quality of recording is good, as RCA holds its own against modern recordings even after 40 years.


2. Itzhak Perlman/Bernard Haitink/Concertgebouw Orchestra - Mendelssohn/Bruch Violin Concertos - EMI Classics

Perlman spins a slow and leisurely first movement, with his usual honey like tone, probably partly due to his recently acquired "Soil" Stradivarius (claimed to be the best Strad vln) from the virtuoso Menuhin a few years back, and this recording was made in 1991. It might be a bit too slow for some (12 min+) but for his tone and accuracy it's worth it. He takes the same way with the second movement and plays an accurate but bland 3rd movement imho. thus the next recording is:



3. Hilary Hahn/Marek Janowski/Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra - Mendelssohn/Shostakovich Concerto No. 1 - Sony Classical

Hahn's violin has a unique sound. To me, it sounds silvery but not penetrating enough like eg. Heifetz's ex-David Guarnerius. Thus Hahn takes the first movement in a classical way, far from my favourite...too cool? however her 3rd movement is the best I have on record. Hahn zips across it with virtually no intonation errors, her upbow spiccato has a glorious nip and fly sound, and theres nothing wrong with her phrasing and enormous technique required to pull off this Mendelssohnian fairy dance. I find Heifetz's Munch 3rd movement to be too scratchy...perhaps as Heifetz always insisted he be positioned close to the mike? Thus Hahn comes in first, and I always believed that a good 3rd mvmt of mendelssohn shld make it under the 6 min mark. too slow would be disastrous.


OTHERS

I dunno why Menuhin-Furtwangler is so acclaimed, I have it and the old man apparently has lost his technique and his violin sounds scratchy. Don't buy it. And I have two Milstein, however I find his intonation awry at times (after all, he didnt like to practice), not precise like Heifetz. And Oistrakh is just...too off for my liking. haha. Rmb heifetz. the best. I also have his 1939? Mendelssohn with Beecham. the 3rd mvmt there is fantastic, however i still give the edge to hahn.


Hmm for videos of Mendelssohn Concerto, the DVD EMI CLASSICS - HEIFETZ/RUBINSTEIN/PLATIGORSKY would be a good vid of Heifetz's rendition of the 1st mvmt. however its a bit grainy as it was recorded in 1949 and the sound leaves much to be desired. apparently heifetz stormed out of the studio after this take as the orch didnt end together with him!

For the 3rd mvmt, ur in luck, as zh has uploaded heifetz's heart-stopping rendition of it on youtube, viewable by all. NO competition virtually. watch and see.