Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Recorded Sound :: Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Bach Partita No. 3, Sonata No. 3

Beethoven lover

Carl Jacob | San Rafael, CA USA | 02/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you enjoy Beethoven and are a Nigel Kennedy fan, this is a must CD. If you are not a Kennedy fan this CD should make you one. Unlike many "live" recordings with much over-dubbing later, the rawness and strength of Kennedy's playing and the complexity of this piece make this my favorite rendition of Beethoven's Violin Concerto. I've had the pleasure of a Kennedy live performance and listening to this CD brings back great memories. Kennedy, Tennstedt, the NDR, a great combination for great listening."

Muted sound

09/02/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Kennedy is undoubtedly a musician of great talent, and this recording dubbed "real live" is a good example. However it is not the best Beethoven out there by any stretch. I have heard better "live" recordings as well. Try Perlman's live Beethoven with Barenboim on EMI. In Kennedy's recording the orchestra sounds like it is placed too far back, with clarity suffering. Still if you are a Kennedy fan, this is a must."

One of the most beautiful Beethoven, not the most technical

Carl Jacob | 02/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beethoven's violinconcerto has always been regarded as one of the mightiest and most complex concertos written for violin. All great artists have recorded it and it's always on their soloist program. Howewer, many soloists seem to be playing more technically and virtuoso, rather than trying to communicate the deep feelings of the music itself. That's probably because they learned that violin is a virtuoso instrument, Paganini caprices and nothing more ( they probably also got their teachers musical picture instead of a chance to imagine their own)The computer accuracy and ice-cold treatment of the music is nowadays more a rule than an exception. That's a shame because in Beethoven's concerto there are emotions, feelings, passion..naturally it's not an over-romatic piece or a try to drown the music itself with virtuoso passages or over-blown vibratos. Instead it is a deep and sensitive work of emotions that needs beauty and not technical mastery to communicate. Naturally you need technic but it should not come before the music. Nigel Kennedy manages just like Perlman and Menhuin to bring out this share beauty and communicate that feeling to the listeners. Sure, one or two notes are slightly out of tune but it's definately one of the most beautiful and honest performances I have ever heard. Thank God that we still have real musicians in the world."