Outstanding phrasing, tone, and candenza on #5 "Turkish"
Elissa Kartman | San Leandro, CA USA | 05/13/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm a long-term fan of Perlman, and so my loves are for phrasing that "tells a story," every note is part of a sentence, and tone is beautiful. I find all these in this recording. The only thing I was missing, due to the period in which it was written, was double-stopping, and BINGO, his candenza in #5, the only one I heard--on the radio--fills that need beautifully!"
A Treat
Daniel | California | 01/01/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Overall I'm very happy with this disc! I was looking for something with #2 on it, digital quality, and new talent -- this disc was the choice. I used to have Yehudi Menuhin's recording of #3 and #5 with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra from the Mozart Festival ... and was happy to find this disk where he conducts. A very fine recording of the three concertos. BUT! A few nitpicks (I am a violinist). #3 starts the disc and is "all good." Repin glides through it and does some virtuoso fiddling especially in the third movement in the "march" section. #2 is the one I was really wanting to hear, having never had a recording of it and having just finished learning it myself. Happy to say I got all the notes right: but I think Menuhin speeds through the first movement. This seems to be a fault of many CD recordings these days: no time for proper phrasing! Also, Repin's cadenza at the end of the first movement is too long and too strident. Otherwise Repin's cadenzas are all perfect. I must say also that Menuhin's tempo choices on the second movements of all three concertos are perfection. The B-section of the third movement (of #2) is a beautiful Mozartian development which Repin does not quite come through on. He plays fine, but he missed some delicacy that is quintessential Mozart. If it were a few clicks slower... Concerto #5 is excellent. Another reviewer mentioned not being "convinced" about the slow movement: I thought it fine. The only nitpick is the flutes that come in late on the haunting violin intro of the first movement! I would have stopped everything right there and started over -- but apparently Menuhin decided to let it ride. The other thing I kept thinking all through #5 was how great Sophie Mutter would be playing it! (I must put her recording of #5 on my wishlist!) The Wiener Orchestra is beautifully in tune with Repin: another thing that's not always guaranteed these days. A great disc overall. Recommended."
Impressive...
Daniel | 11/16/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Very good recording overall. The tempos are well-judged, the playing is natural and enthusiastic, and Repin's tone (on the Ruby Stradivari violin) is beautiful. As far as the cadenzas, I love them, though some may find them just a little too virtuoso/Paganini-like for these concertos. Repin and Menhuin have good chemistry together. The turkish sections in the Fifth are very well done, and the orchestral accompaniment is appropriately chamber sized and enthusiastic. The warm natural digital sound is fantastic with details shining through in every bar and Repin's gorgeous tone and phrasing a real pleasure. I am giving four stars because in the middle of the slow movement for the fifth concerto, there is a passage in which I felt like the wind section of the Vienna Chamber orchestra didn't play right. I am not entirely convinced by the slow movement of the Fifth in this CD. Overall a great recording though. I bought this CD instead of Perlman/Levine because the woodwinds in Levine's recording don't shine through enough. Here though the balance between winds and strings is perfect and Menhuin has a good grasp of the concertos. Whatever you do, don't miss the other Mozart violin concertos and the rondo and adagio for violin and orchestra and the lovely Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola, and orchestra. The Grumiaux recordings (on the Philips label) set the standard by which later recordings are judged. There is also a new set on Arte Nova (conducted by David Zinman) that I haven't heard. And while you're at it, there is a beautiful viola concerto by Vanhal, a contemporary of Mozart's that is worthy of being in your collection too."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1