Fiddle fanciers will have a field day with this disc, whose 15 selections veer wildly between treacle and flash, sauce and sentiment. Everything's done with virtuosity. How could it be otherwise with Maxim Vengerov front a... more »nd center, his instrument either throbbing with emotion or getting giggles from the audience with its imitation of high-pitched bird squawks? He's supported by a pianist and the 11 violins of Virtuosi, who back him in this selection of encore pieces whose arrangements are sometimes clever, sometimes corny. At times, it all gets a bit much (innocent bystanders can be smothered in vibrato); at other times listeners who suspend their critical faculties can just enjoy it. Vengerov certainly seems to and so does the Viennese audience. --Dan Davis« less
Fiddle fanciers will have a field day with this disc, whose 15 selections veer wildly between treacle and flash, sauce and sentiment. Everything's done with virtuosity. How could it be otherwise with Maxim Vengerov front and center, his instrument either throbbing with emotion or getting giggles from the audience with its imitation of high-pitched bird squawks? He's supported by a pianist and the 11 violins of Virtuosi, who back him in this selection of encore pieces whose arrangements are sometimes clever, sometimes corny. At times, it all gets a bit much (innocent bystanders can be smothered in vibrato); at other times listeners who suspend their critical faculties can just enjoy it. Vengerov certainly seems to and so does the Viennese audience. --Dan Davis
CD Reviews
A Violinist of Infinite virtuosity
MR WT MAKHATHINI | Durban, South Africa | 08/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is the best encore yet another best CD by Maxim Vengerov.I listened to this at my local shop & I nearly kicked myself for being guided by one review saying that this CD is bad.I have never heard music sounding so sweet & yet so familiar with a new twist.Once Vengerov put his hands on the violin sparks really fly.He has the ability to make the violin sing on its own, extremely lyrical,expressive & very much technical in handling it. Some reviewers raised concerns of breathing which i think is not a mistake but an added humour to the songs. One must be reminded that some of these songs are based on stories of the past & if the performer incoporates that sense of humour in the performance to tell a story I think its good.Beside that its a minor thing that is not visible.With regard to the premature clapping on the long pause in the last song, well the audience obviuosly thought the song is finished like i did & Im sure most listeners thought the same in this regard & any way the clapping was due to the most beautiful picazato & bowing resulting inexpressible finish.I think the audience could not wait to say encore!encore!U listen to Motto,Bazzini, Tchaicosky which I think is the only slow but most trilling melodie, Bramhs dances are out of this world."Ave Maria by Schurbert is one of the painful beautiful songs ever written for violin.ALL tracks are the best there is. I must say though that i was not totally pleased with the choice of songs.i think the familiar songs are forever played may be the producer could have stuck with the unfamiliar works like Bazzini,Vittorio Motto, Khachaturian, Novasek,Ponce etc I like those unfamiliar composers.We have alwaysed listened to Jules massenet, Schurbert,Dvorack etc for a long time but overall this is an excellent CD with great performance by Vengerov & his crew(Virtuoso) ya! a very appropriate name. From now on I wont only depend on reviews but i think its important to listen to these beautiful works as other reviewers express it too personal in a negative way or misinterpret these encores by the most talented violinist alive today. Go on purchase it as a gift for the one you love the most."
Vengerov at his best!
TSENG Bruce | Hong Kong | 11/11/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Vengerov is now one of the, if not the, greatest violinists in our time (I can only think of Gil Shaham who is of the same rank; others like Joshua Bell is just not comparable). His technique is well-nigh impeccable, which is fully reflected in the selected pieces here. Vengerov seemed to have mastered these demanding little pieces with ease (please listen to the La Ronde des Lutins of Bazzini). I attended his concert with Virtuosi last week (with nearly the same programme in this CD) and I can assure you that what you hear in this CD is real i.e. without editing! Vengerov has the ability to bring out the difficult parts in a piece and make it more exciting. Listening to Vengerov is a very satisfying experience. Virtuosi (which is just a small chamber-orchestra comprising only violins) also does a good job in accompanying him.But if you think there is nothing deeper there, you cannot be more distant from the truth. The fact is, Vengerov's musicianship and interpretation are considered mature and he does have some insights for certain pieces, e.g. Schubert's Ave Maria and Rachmaninov's Vocalise. I can only complain about his occasional over-self-indulgence, say, when playing stuff like Estrellita by Ponce or Meditation by Massenet.You would not regret spending ... on this CD, 'cos it is definitely money well spent for nearly 70 minutes of good music. If you've never listened to Vengerov, you would probably become one of his fans afterwards."
Five plus stars and then some
TSENG Bruce | 08/15/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a REALLY nice album. The sound is crisp and clear, with no distracting background noises. Vengerov plays with an accompanying group called Virtuosi, a sort of mini-chamber orchestra of 11 violins and a piano. The soloist and Virtuosi blend together fluidly, each complimenting the other, so that the presentation is awesome. Most of the works on this album are common, but Vengerov plays with an alternative verve and lyricism that seems to squeeze out the best possible sound and sensation of the music. Vocalise, the first piece, is wonderfully powerful and yet at the same time so achingly romantic. The faster pieces, Estrelita and the Hungarian Dances, have restrained power and varying levels of passion that is charming as well as arousing. Ave Maria is almost painful, it is so beautiful. Vengerov's style, well-demonstrated on his last album with the best Brahms I'd ever heard, is strong yet not overpowering; he is master of the violin, yet he coaxes it into joining him as his equal. Then suddenly he seems almost to be showing the violin itself just how much it can do. The pianist is quite stunning as well, and Virtuosi are poised, with all eleven violins, to join in and surround you with strings. If you love the violin, do not hesitate to purchase this album."
A CD you'll play many times
ArtHarrison | CA United States | 07/10/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is such a thoroughly entertaining CD. Virtuosi has the most uniquely beautiful sound and Vengerov is always so expressive and dynamic. His Ave Maria is a spiritual experience, and compells you to listen over and over again. Track 6, Novacek's Perpetuum Mobile, is one of the coolest things I've ever heard violins do! Why don't more composers write things like this?? The Bezzini Les Ronde des Lutins is so good it'll probably make you laugh out loud. Anyway, one of the other reviewers mentioned breathing...especially on track 12. I believe he was sighing there and it was meant to be humorous, to go with a humorous piece. Anyway, I like to occasionally hear the violinist's breathing. Signs of life only add to the excitment for me!"
Virtuosi... indeed
Gloria | San Francisco Bay Area, CA | 10/21/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am currently obsessed with Maxim Vengerov. He plays with such Russian-ness; such forward, energetic phrasing, and a crisp, clean style. Maxim is at his absolute best when playing pieces written by Russian composers. Hearing these is almost like hearing a private conversation between the composer and the artist. There is real communication between them that we are privy to in a private, intimate way.My only qualm is perhaps the lack of, I don't know what, religion maybe. I see this quality as being antithetical to virtuosity though, so perhaps this criticism is not well placed here, if the implication of the title is that Virtuosi is not only the name of the group playing with Maxim, but is also an aim of the overall presentation. I can't help feel a difference though between the artistry of Maxim and the artistry of someone like Dinu Lipatti. These are very different styles, and I don't know, but I might like to hear some of Dinu's almost prayerfulness in Maxim's playing. Nevertheless I will continue to buy, to love, and to recommend Maxim Vengerov's CDs."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1