Customer Reviews

Brahms: Violin Concerto ~ Giulini / Perlman

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There is no doubt that this is a slower version of the Brahms violin concerto than many - the first movement stretches to some 24 minutes. But what Perlman has given to this recording is such expression and emotion that I for one cannot help but love this recording. Certainly, despite having listened to many pieces of music through the years, I still have not met another that is so beautiful as this interpretation of the second movement.

Of course, the Heifetz recording is without question fantastic, and ideally don't miss that either, but I still know many who feel this is the definitive version.

There are a number of great recordings of this concerto. Among them are ones I have personally listened to over a long period of time, such as EMI's Milstein/Fistoulari/PO, the great Klemperer/National French Radio Orchestra/Oistrakh -- and, friends, that is a very good one indeed! -- on EMI, and, cutting the list short, this one, the Giulini/PO/Perlman performance. Just recently I heard a glorious local performance of this concerto in my hometown with Midori and the Jacksonville Symphony. But these cds are my favorites culled from many over the years. The tossup is between the Klemperer and the Giulini, but the one I listen to most is the sheer beauty and lyricism of the Giulini/Perlman performance. It is very romantic, has the big sound, and nobody exceeds the Chicago Symphony, Carlo Maria Giulini, and Perlman in presenting this concerto.

And let me say a word about this concerto. It is in essence romantic music. Just say "beautiful." Like the Dvorak Cello concerto, how does one do it without it sounding like it is? Romantic! Big! Sonorous! Lush! And why do it if it cannot be performed in the mood and spirit with which the music was intended? Well, nobody projects this kind of music better than this performance by Giulini, the CSO, and Perlman. I feel sorry for all the people reviewing this ahead of me who do not like this performance. I have been listening to Brahms over 50 years, and no one does this better than Carlo Maria Giulini, the CSO, and Perlmann. It shows music is more than just playing the notes or running the tempos. Music is for people. And this performance is sensational. It lets the romanticism engrained be released and rule every part of the concert. Go listen to it again, and hear it for a change. Fall in love with music again. Get this disc and be glad you did. It will become your favorite.

Yes, there are other great performances. I have mentioned just two others. But one will not find a better performance than this for the intention and type of music that is composed. Get it. Be glad you can. It is a smashing rendition of this music.

Perlman and Giulini are two icons that have combined for some splendid music, and this is clearly an excellent album.

Yes, the tempo is slow but it is also so warm and lyrical like most of Giulini's work. My only complaint is that the sound of the recording is not quite balanced, but this is a minor flaw as the musicianship of both dominate this OUTSTANDING recording.

To judge by its rave reception among British critics, this Brahms Violin Concerto with Perlman and Giulini is definitely a great recording of the century. However, I think the serious reservations of Amazon reviewers hits closer to home. Everything shines with the highest finish: the CSO sounds great, Perlman is sweet-toned and note-perfect, Giulini conducts with both affection and authority. If you compare this CD to Perlman's remake with the Berlin Phil. under Daniel Barenboim, tempos for the first movement are slower under Giulini (24+ min. against 22+ min.), but Giulini sustains the broad line while Barenboim lets it collapse.

Even so, I think Giulini really is dragging, and I'm amazed that Perlman found a way to keep his solo part alive. He sounds basically the same in both of his recordings--he doesn't have a heroic vision of Brahms and never tries for sharp attack or unlovely sounds. The slow movement here is taken more or less up to speed, with superlative wind playing and a suave melodic line from Perlman. He is exemplary in the rollicking finale, a bit slow here but forceful.

All in all, this is a reading I can admire but not love. Brahms without passion doesn't make sense to me, no matter how beautifully played. My recommendation is Gidon Kremer with Bernstein for an impassioned collaboration and Heiftez with Reiner for a swift, exciting one.

I have heard various renditions of this piece. This is my favorite. Beautifully written and beautifully performed. My question for those who have performed the first and third movements at a faster clip: what's your hurry?? I find the faster tempos sound shallow - the music can't breathe. Though this concerto requires virtuosity from the soloist (and Perlman has that to spare), I am always struck at how "musical" this concerto is from beginning to end. By "musical," perhaps I really mean lyrical. This concerto doesn't strike me as many of the lesser concertos do: fireworks! arpeggios! scales! - thank you, goodnight. It contains all of those elements, yet I hear it as a grand piece of music; infused from start to finish with the lyricism of a great writer of art songs. Though it contains the fire of the gypsy-inspired soloist for whom it was written (Joachin), I don't perceive it as a piece that was meant to be merely "flashy." Musically, it is a far deeper piece, and I like it like that.

I am a collector and a melomane, not a critic. Just could not pass up responding to three inane reviews. When I was (very) young I thought Reiner could conduct and I thought Giulini was too slow. Trust me, Giulini ages a lot more gracefully than Reiner. This is my choice for best recording (by a long shot) of the Brahms (obviously, I have not heard them all). The only serious crticism is balance, soundstage, microphone placement, etc. that EMI could not really alter in the re-mastering. Perlman was excessively highlighted in most recordings. If you want a Brahms violin concerto that you can live with (and if you are over 13 years old), you need to hear this one.

The sound is extremely poor. Perlman himself would hate this production for its lack of sound engineering and its lousy quality control. EMI Disgraced this particular performance. If you want to hear Brahm's Violin Concerto try Anne-Marie Mutter with DG, Yehudi Menuhim with Seraphim, or look for Isaac Stern's. If you love Perlman's performances, then go for it with Barenboim (under our infamous label EMI, but with good sound). And do yourself a favor: DON'T BUY THIS CD!

As always, Perlman handles the technical challenges beautifully, but there is a lack of fire and brilliance that one would expect from a rendition of a work by Brahms. My major complaint with the performance is that the first and third movements are WAY too slow. I almost fell asleep listening to the first. I would suggest Heifetz's performance of Brahms with the Chicago Symphony, conducted by Fritz Reiner. (It is ironic that two performances of Brahms with the Chicago symphony can be such polar opposites.) Heifetz is probably one of the only violinists of the 20th century who could have taken Brahms as fast as he did, but the concerto (esp. the 1st movement) sounds better played faster. In this way, the performance is infused with more fire. After listening to the Heifetz/Reiner recording, I guarantee that you will not be able to listen to most Brahms renditions again.

Perlman is a very fine violinist, but this recording is not one of his best. His virtuosity is clear and pleasant and he has the advantage of being accompanied by the Chicago Symphony. The biggest problem with this recording is that Perlman and Giulini choose a tempo that is far too slow. This is a huge factor which is why this performance is weak and disappointing. Both of these two have done better. Stay away from this however.

The sound is extremely poor. Perlman himself would hate this production for its lack of sound engineering and its lousy quality control. EMI Disgraced this particular performance. If you want to hear Brahm's Violin Concerto try Anne-Marie Mutter with DG, Yehudi Menuhim with Seraphim, or look for Isaac Stern's. If you love Perlman's performances, then go for it with Barenboim (under our infamous label EMI, but with good sound). And do yourself a favor: DON'T BUY THIS CD!