Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Sulkhan Tsintsadze: Miniatures

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I love this recording! The Tsintsadze is a revelation, fantastic folk melodies, followed by the Beethoven violin concerto. Ms. Batiashvili plays her sensuous violin with perfect taste and technique.

Hmmm, with all the discussion regarding who is the premier violinist regarding the Beethoven violin concerto, it seems that there are far too may recordings of this beloved masterpiece to choose from. This past year we have both Renaud Capucon and Janine Jansen with new releases paired with some unusual couplings: eg. Korngold for Capucon Beethoven, Korngold: Violin Concertos and Britten for Jansen Beethoven, Britten: Violin Concertos. Nevertheless, neither can be considered as debut recordings.
A few years back DGG released their much hyped recording of Vadim Repin and the Vienna Philharmonic Beethoven Violin Concerto - Kreutzer Sonata. Although critically acclaimed, this recording has failed to impress me. Most noticeably DGG has resorted to marketing gimmickry by inserting two disks into a chisel shaped jewel case. Inadvertently, some customers may be fooled and think they are picking up a hybrid SACD. Shame on DGG for attempting to fool a growing customer base that is being made more aware of SACD technology. About the same time Harmonia Mundi released Isabelle Faust and Jiri Belohlavic with the same pairing of the violin concerto and the Kreutzer sonata Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Kreutzer Sonata. Were I to choose between Repin or Faust? Well, Faust, of course. Her skillful playing is precise, concise and well synchronized with the Prague Philharmonic orchestra. It seems like I've been listening to chamber music, but on a much larger scale. To find out just how brilliant a conductor Belohlavic is, consider his conducting the Dvorak cello concerto for Queyras (also featuring him with Faust and Melnikov in the 'Dumky' piano trio).Dvorák: Cello Concerto
I have much enjoyed Christian Tetzlaff's recording on Arte Nova Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Violin Romances. For what this recording label is pricing their disks at, who can complain? Tetzlaff brilliantly exudes confidence and displays the heroic aspects of the Beethoven violin concerto. The pairing with the two romances is not a bad idea either. As such, it works wonderfully.
This brings me to Lisa (or Elizabeth as some of her recordings list her as) Batiashvili. Yes, so what if she is of Georgian ethnicity? How delightful. The Tsintsadze miniatures are delightful appetizers to the main course that is the Beethoven. As Batiashvili has detailed in her liner notes, she is attempting to merge the Georgian culture with the Germanic culture-the miniatures with the much larger concerto. With her passionate dedication and sincere commitment, I feel she pulls this off wonderfully. Well articulated, lyrical with a fine balance between light and shade, this recording is eagerly recommended. 5 stars all around.
Browsing through Amazon classical, I am very surprised to find all three violinists: Batiashvili, Faust and Tetzlaff joining all together in Mendelssohn's Octet. I've got to add this to my wish list now!Mendelssohn, Enescu: Octets For Strings

This rec stands well up there with the classics like Oistrakh. The absence of conductor gives a more alert orchestra, more of an intimate chamber music feeling.

This is a wonderful performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto and probably the best recording out there. Lisa Batiashvili has that all important talent that is so needed when playing the music of Beethoven and that is natural rhythm.

The Georgian composer Sulhkan Tsintsadze is also featured on this CD and his work is new to me but a delight particularly "Suliko" which sounds as if it is based on a traditional folk song or dance.

Also as a side note there is a piece by Tsintsadze called "Tzin Tzkaro" that seems to have been a major influence on Kate Bush's Hounds Of Love album and particularly the song "Hello Earth".

This is the best classical album around at the moment!!! Love it!!!!!