Search - Mozart, Lin, Leppard :: Violin Concertos 1 & 4

Perfection

12/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mozart's violin concertos need a more restrained approach along with good musicianship. Lin has these qualities, and Leppard and the English Chamber Orchestra provide enthusiastic accompaniment. Leppard's cadenzas are natural, almost like an extension of Mozart's music. There is a small typo on the back cover listing one of the cadenzas as 5 minutes and 16 seconds when it is actually 1 min and 16 sec when you put it in the CD player. I do appreciate the way they have the cadenzas on separate tracks, but since Leppard's cadenzas are so great I always play the whole thing. The first violin concerto is the least enjoyable of Mozart's violin concertos, though quite impressive for a 19 year old. The Fourth concerto, however, is a true mature masterpiece that challenges most violinists because of its complex architecture. Lin plays it perfectly, a little cooler than the sugar coated Romantic approach of other violinists (eg. Mutter, Perlman, Repin) but much more accurate and perhaps more satisfying, depending on your taste."

Found it!

G. Metcalf | United States | 10/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently wrote a review of a more recent traversal of Mozart's violin concertos. Although I gave that recording 4 stars I did it with misgivings. The engineering was great and the playing was at least adequate. I wondered if a better version might be out there. I had heard Mutter/Karajan before and although the tuttis were heavier than I liked the final product was perhaps more enjoyable. The versions of Nos. 1 and 4 on this disc simply blow those away. The strings are light but vigorous as they should be in my opinion with Mozart. Even better the cadenzas are fantastic. Even in the midst of denser orchestral passages the soloist is always discernable while not being too far forward. This is the version I was looking for and I can recommend this one without hesitation. The sound here is great -- a sharp image, pleasantly warm. This is a fairly short program however and the Grumeau (hopefully I spelled this correctly) -- I believe on a Phillips double disc set-- might be equally good and more economical."

Mozart + Lin = Elegance and Charm

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 04/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cho Liang Lin has been around for some time now and it is always refreshing to survey his older recordings to remind us just how fine and understated is his gift. Lin possesses one of the warmest tones of any violinist today and yet he never allows that full-bodied richness of sound so perfect for the Romantic and contemporary works to override his performances of the earlier period pieces: his Mozart is detailed, beautifully phrased, impeccably musical, and fresh every time you listen.



Here he traverses the Mozart Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218 and Violin Concerto No. 1 in B flat major, K. 207 with a lovingly rendered Rondo for violin & orchestra in B flat major, K. 269 as encore. He is sensitively support by the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Raymond Leppard. The result is a recording of warmth, a sense of spontaneity, and a perfect balance of textures between the violinist and chamber orchestra. This is Mozart as fine as any on record! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, April 06





"