Search - Max Bruch, Jesús López-Cobos, New Philharmonia Orchestra :: The Perlman Edition - Bruch Violin Concerto No. 2 & Scottish Fantasy

Quite good, but not a patch on Perlman's 1988 remake

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 06/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 1977 pairing of the Scottish Fantasy and Bruch's Second Violin Concerto was highly praised at its release. Perhlman had just secured his status, never to be lost, as the most famous violin virtuoso of the day, and he plays with forward, exciting presence. But about a decade later, in 1988, he re-recorded the same pairing, and in all ways the second version is suprerior. EMI's 1988 sound makes the violin much sweeter than before. The Israel Phil. is not as good as the New Philharmonia, but Mehta gets more response from them than Lopez-Cobos did.



The main improvment, however, lies with Perlman. The conventional wisdom would say that he was a more involving musician in the Seventies than later on, but in Bruch, at least, the reverse is true. His 1988 Scottish Fantasy is mesmerizing in its lyrical tenderness, and he makes the cumbersonme Second Concerto really "speak". Taking all these comparisons together, I think the remake is the CD to buy--it's one of Perlman's very best."

A Fine Scottish Fantasy

A. Phillips | UK | 07/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not generally recognised by musicologists as a great work, Bruch's lovely Scottish Fantasy is nevertheless a favourite among violinists and discerning devotees of violin music.



Of the fine 20th century recordings of this work, Perlman gives one of the most convincing accounts. While Oistrakh may be more poetic and Chung more introspective, Perlman's interpretation is sensitive, direct and unmannered. (His later recording of the same work with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is less successful.) There is a sympathetic accompaniment by the New Philharmonia Orchestra and, although the soloist is closely focussed, the recording quality is good.



Bruch's rarely recorded Violin Concerto no. 2 is not as memorable as the Scottish Fantasy and has been overshadowed by the more famous G minor Concerto. Perlman gives a committed performance and his reading brings out the best in what is a less substantial work.



To read about other great Jewish violinists, visit www.GreatJews.net."