Beethoven: Kreutzer, Spring Sonatas / Perlman, Ashkenazy

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Vladimir Ashkenazy (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (September 14, 1999)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00001IVOQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,746 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One for the Ages, June 17, 2001

By 

bibliomane01 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Kreutzer, Spring Sonatas / Perlman, Ashkenazy (Audio CD)

Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata for Violin and Piano is probably the most famous piece ever written for these two instruments. It is ironic that most people associate it with the story by Tolstoy, because the middle movement (andante with variations) features some of the most serenely beautiful music ever written and the tone of the piece overall is a world away from the harsh emotions pervading Tolstoy's grim tale of adultery and revenge.

Reissued in the new Decca Legends series (a belated response to the hugely successful DG Originals?), this recording of the Kreutzer is my choice for the greatest performance of this work available on CD. Gideon Kremer and Martha Argerich run a close second and Maxim Vengerov is very impressive indeed in his rendition with Alexander Markovich, but in my view you just can't beat Perlman and Ashkenazy's truly "legendary" showing. The eloquence and power of their reading is unique, and the recording is as close to perfect as one is likely to get. Coupled with a fine performance of the Spring Sonata, this album is one of the stars of my collection.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soul stirring Performance!!!, March 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Beethoven: Kreutzer, Spring Sonatas / Perlman, Ashkenazy (Audio CD)

This is easily one of my Prized possessions -These are among the finest pieces of Music ever composed and this performance by Perlman and Ashkenazy is truly a glorious one reminding us that
'A THING OF BEAUTY IS JOY FOREVER'.Of the two sonatas the SPRING is my favourite.What a longing and Poignancy Perlman brings in the opening movement and Ashkenazy is a perfect match in Restrained Elegance and Heroic Poise.The second movement is highly contemplative one and plumbing great depths.The anguish seems to have been resolved through some deep understanding and in the Third movement there is already a sense of having come to terms and a certain elan.The playing throughout is of the hightened sensitivity-truly marvellous.In these troubled times we cannot do better than to listen to these masterpieces by these truly great artists in order to revive our faith that there is within us the power to transform -the power of compassion!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent chemistry, July 23, 2001

By 

Jeff Davis Maynor "Jeff" (Baton Rouge, LA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Kreutzer, Spring Sonatas / Perlman, Ashkenazy (Audio CD)

This recording of what are basically the two most popular of Beethoven's violin sonatas is one of the finest ever made. The chemistry between Perlman and Ashkenazy is outstanding. Perlman's playing is of course phenomenal as usual, his exceptional technique and tone are surpased only by the amount of feeling and emotion conveyed by his playing. Ashkenazy is by no means overshadowed, his playing provides the perfect compliment to Perlman. It is rare to find a recording with so feeling between the performers and this is one disc I can recomend to anyone and everyone.