Search - Fritz Kreisler, Samuel Sanders :: The Kreisler Album

Kreisler flies again

Archimedes | Pennsylvania | 04/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of my earliest memories is of listening to Kreisler playing his works on 78 rpm records. Many of these are what Perlman is playing oon this collection. The notes make a disclaimer: Perlman is not trying to play these "like Kreisler".



Well, I own a Kreisler CD of transcriptions -- a couple of them, in fact, and the characteristics that endear his playing to us Perlman has in full measure. Perlman is fully immersed in Kreisler feeling, something he attested to in an interview ("The Violinist", on DVD) and I humbly suggest that he is unsurpassed in this repertoire. The pianist is uncannily like Kreisler's own accompanist, and the sense of nostalgia is very strong indeed!



There are three other violinists --at least-- with Kreisler collections out" Gil Shaham, Joshua Bell, and Kennedy. Of these, I think Gil Shaham does a beautiful job; I have not heard the other two.



I recommend this recording very highly indeed. The playing is as full of insidious charm and romantic almost to the point of sentimentality, which in my view is not a bad thing at all. (Gil Shaham's self-effacing style is lighter, providing a contrast for those who think that's what they want.)



Archimedes"

Itzhak Perlman plays Fritz Kreisler

Dottiegee | Easton, PA USA | 01/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this album. I owned it in a long play record for years and now have the CD to listen to. I love violin music and this is the best."