Search - Johannes Brahms, Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Herbert von Karajan :: Mendelssohn/Brahms: Violin Concertos

Karajan and Mutter match perfectly, but not for me

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/14/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Even though I consider Karajan the greatest maestro of his generation, as an accompanist he tended to exhibit faults I don't find when he's on his own. In both these concertos there's a concern for overall smoothness, mellow tone, and precise balance. Karajan's lovely young protegee, Mutter, matches his approach perfectly. She spins one of the most consistent tones of any violinist and shows no desire to crowd the spotlight. The result wins admiration for being harmonious, but where's the individuality and drama?



In the Mendelssohn concerto we get dreamy melodic lines but no real delight and magic--it's all rather charmless, without joy. Mutter is careful not to show off with brilliant pyrotechnics, which is too bad--if you're going to dazzle, this is one work that will take off into ethereal heights. The Brahms finds Karajan developing a broad sound picture that's simply too bland. The rugged, struggling temperament of this composer has been carefuly suppressed, and at no times does Mutter seem to throw caution to the wind. Having said that, I much prefer this reading to the celebrated EMI recording with Perlman and Giulini--it's even more faceless and correct.



Of course, tastes differ, and I must confess that Mutter never went on to make any recordings I really love, so perhaps I should be discounted as a non-fan. If you value precise technique and clean tone without much 'intervention" on the soloist's part, here you are. I will stick with Menuhin/Furtwangler, Heifetz/Reiner, and Mullova/Abbado, among quite a few that shine with more vibrancy than this CD."

Mellow Mendelssohn and Bright Brahms Amid the Berlin Philhar

Professor Donald Mitchell | Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 97,000 Helpfu | 03/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you haven't heard these recordings, you have a nice surprise ahead of you. The Mendelssohn dates from 1981 and the Brahms from 1982. Because of the recording dates, you've got the young protege, Anne-Sophie Mutter, firmly under the leadership of the old master, Herbert von Karajan, with that marvelous orchestra to draw on for generous support.



Ms. Mutter has never been closer since then to the gentler ways of performing these pieces as she is here. The accompaniment is very well balanced and perfectly complements the solos.



Being used to a lot of fire from Ms. Mutter, some may complain that these performances aren't sizzling enough.



I found that her interpretation of Mendelssohn was delightfully restrained which allowed for the heavenly aspects of the piece to emerge. I was equally pleased with her Brahms where her violin seems to literally sing to us in a beautiful human voice. Beneath the surface, you can feel the controlled power of Mutter, von Karajan, and the Berlin Philharmonic. It's like watching heavyweights delicately dancing ballet to exquisite chamber music. You know there's the power there to blow us away, but that they want to enrapture us instead.



This recording will appeal most to people who like to hear classic pieces of the repertoire performed in ways that aren't the typical fare."

Potent and accessible

katja_r | 05/07/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I enjoy the youthful performance of Felix Mendelssohn's (1809-1847) Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor. The violinist is the protégée, Ms Anne-Sophie Mutter (b1963). The conductor is Herr Doktor Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989). This relationship has proven to be an extremely important one for the world of classical music. This performance balances youth and maturity. If Mendelssohn's Concerto is not the happiest piece of violin music, I don't know what is. The notes in this package are simply grand. Ms Constantin Floros writes that the popularity of Mendelssohn's piece is the result of "many factors", citing "a potency and accessibility of its themes, a happy blend of cantabile melody and virtuosity, of expressiveness and brilliance, of simplicity and refinement, as well as the subtlety of the atmospheric moods." Brief biographies of Ms Mutter and Herr Doktor von Karajan are also supplied. Even though they are short, the bios manage to overwhelm me with the accomplishments. If you are interested in a very accessible performance by a pair of exceptional figures in the classical music scene, this CD will interest you."