Search - Beethoven, Stern, Barenboim :: Violin Concerto

Isaac Stern's best recording of Beethoven's Violin Concerto

Alan Majeska | Bad Axe, MI, USA | 08/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Isaac Stern's best recording of Beethoven's Violin Concerto, recorded in 1975 with Daniel Barenboim/New York Philharmonic, and not to be confused with Stern's 1960 Sony recording with the same orchestra under Leonard Bernstein. Stern is a great soloist here: his virtuosity unquestioned, and plays with a maturity and authority not evident 15 years earlier with Bernstein. The New York Philharmonic sounds richer and fuller here than in some of their Bernstein (Sony) and Mehta (Odyssey, CBS, Sony)recordings and the partnership between Stern, Barenboim and orchestra is great.



One minor criticism: the violin sometimes sounds too far apart from the orchestra, and sounds louder (due to being closer to the microphones, I suspect, or perhaps it's the engineering) than the orchestra in a few places. But this is a minor gripe, and I would buy this recording anyway even with that knowledge.



Even without discmates, and at only 45 minutes playing time, this disc is still a good buy for Stern's best Beethoven Concerto recording."

The best rendition of Beethoven's violin concerto.

Alan Majeska | 02/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have listened to this rendition of Beethoven's violin concerto since I was a child. The clarity and technical ability of Stern's interpretation is outstanding. Often I feel that more modern recordings are poor imitations of the phraseology and technique present here. This CD has to have the prime place in any violin concerto collection."

Great Beyond Words

Mr. H | Chappaqua, NY USA | 05/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beethoven must have intended this piece to be played just this way. This performance has great passion and soul. It is perfect. I've listened to it hundreds of times, and it just gets better. Barenboim gets it just right, and Stern is Stern. He was a giant, and this recording proves it."