Search - Sergey Prokofiev, Dmitry Shostakovich, Charles Dutoit :: Prokofiev: Violin Concertos & Sonatas; Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2

Superb Prokofiev from the young Joshua Bell

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 06/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The hype machine wants us to love the stars it promotes, which has a backlash effect. I'm not sure many serious listeners would rank Joshua Bell as a first-class musician, given his glamorous popular image. But he's up to everything Prokofiev throws at the soloist in his two violin concertos and two sonatas. This bargain two-fer can stand up to any rival, including Oistrakh and Perlman. I'm only sorry I overlooked it for so long.



Because Bell and his Strad produce an exceptionally sweet, refined tone, you might not think he can carry off some of Prokofiev's prickly writing, especially in the first sonata. And it's true that the second sonata, adapted from an original for flute, exhibits a lyric quality that suits him better. But Bell is willing to make a few ugly sounds and spiky attacks as called for. What carries the day is an innate sense of phrasing and a musicality that any rival would envy. He's also helped by Decca's excellent sound (better here than on the original releases) and Dutoit's accompaniments -- Prokofiev is one of Dutoit's stronger composers.



As a bonus we get the Shostakovich Trio no. 2, a masterpiece that has been receiving dozens of recordings since Russia opened in 1989. The pianist is the fierce Finn, Olli Mustonen, who also serves as Bell's partner in the sonatas. Together with English cellist Steven Isserlis, they give a sleek but powerful performance. It's not as hectic as Argerich's recent account on EMI or as soulful in the Jewish music of the finale as Ax-Stern-Ma, but this one definitely belongs near the top.



The recording dates are 1993 (concertos), 1995 (sonatas), and 1997 (trio), which means that the earliest recordings were made when Bell was 26. I think he's gotten a bit too refined since then, but if you want Prokofiev with the music's elegant side favored, these are highly recommended. Sometimes swooning is good."