Customer Reviews

Brahms: Violin Concerto

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This is by far my most favorite recording of the Brahm's Violin Concerto. Henryk Szeryng is in top notch form, and the backing by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Pierre Monteux is excellent.

Mr. Szeryng, one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century, recorded this concerto several times. This one was originally released as a RCA Living Stereo LSC-2281 Shaded Dog on vinyl in 1959. It was awarded a Grand Prix du Disque. The master tape they used for this particular release was from an EU DECCA master. Originally recorded in London's Kingsway Hall June 10-12, 1958 by Kenneth Wilkinson and produced by James Walker. Other recordings Szeryng made included another with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antal Dorati in 1962 for Mercury Living Presence (Reissued by Universal in 1992. Currently out of print in the US and EU, but recently reissued in Japan, go to Amazon.co.jp)and another with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by Bernard Haitink in 1973 for Philips, currently available on an Eloquence release.

I feel that this performance is the best of the three. This is Szeryng's most emotional performance of the three. In an attempt to make the performances more Olympian, he tends to slow the performance down with Dorati, and makes it slower yet with Haitink. Szeryng's silvery tone and immaculate intonation coupled with his musical phrasings holds one's attention from start to finish. The Allegro ma non troppo (1st Mvmt) is filled with an enormous amount of energy and tension (Cadenza by Joachim). The Adagio (2nd Mvmt) sings tenderly and sweetly. The Allegro giocoso (3rd Mvmt) is joyfully triumphant.

I have listened to many versions of this concerto, Grumiaux, Heifetz, Kreisler, Mutter, Perlman, Oistrakh, Milstein and this is my favorite performance by far. The only one that comes close is the Oistrakh/ Klemperer performance.

This is a must listen for anyone interested in Henryk Szeryng. This performance was previously released on CD in the US by RCA back in 1987 on their Papillon Collection, then on a French BMG Artiste Repertoires series in 2001. This reissue by JVC is currently the best of this recording on CD format. It has a tremendous amount of clarity and transparency over the other issues on CD. Unless BMG decides to remaster this using DSD on their Living Stereo SACD hybrid series within the next few years (which I really doubt), this will probably be the best remaster of this performance you will likely see on CD ever.

Although this is a bit pricey, Szeryng fans will truly enjoy having this disc. BMG has opted to stick with the Heifetz performances to reissue on their Living Stereo series in the 90's as well as its newer Living Stereo SACD hybrid series. I'm very glad that there are companies like JVC who license and release these performances and not let them disappear.

Don't let the price deter you from buying this wonderful performance by Henryk Szeryng.

My preferred violin concerto was the Sibelius in Schlomo Mintz-James Levine version with Berlin Philharmonic, in DG, but since I heard this version (in a RCA "Papillon" CD) my prefered is now the Brahms' concerto, Szeryng has an virtuosistic and aristocratic style and Monteux' conduction is elegant and colourful, and the sound is excellent for a 1958 recording. I prefer this version much to other recent versions, like Grumiaux-Davis, Perlman-Giulini, Mutter-Karajan, Mutter-Masur and Oistrach-Klemperer, inclusive!. Szeryng was an specialist in this work, which recorded 4 times, with Antal Dorati and Haitink, and others conductors, and I think that in this new JVC production the sound will be yet better than in older editions. For me the best version of this work! Oscar Olavarria, Santiago of Chile, South America
oscarolavarria@yahoo.es

Frankly I was not particularly impressed by the Brahms Violin Concerto until I heard this recording, but the performance by Henryk Szeryng won me over on first hearing. I still sometimes find performances of this concerto by other violinists somewhat boring but then I go back and listen to Szeryng play it and realize what a masterpiece it really is.

Henryk Szeryng was one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. He had an incredible technique, but his finest attribute was his artistry. If you love great violin playing you will love this recording -- and you may well want to acquire other recordings by this outstanding artist.

I have to agree with the other reviewers that this is a truly wonderful recording. Monteux and Szeryng have a very charming apporach to this concerto. I own it on both the vinyl that I picked up used in a record shop 18 years ago and the more pricey JVC label version. I played the vinyl worn but still love it. Now out of print, you can still find it here and there on auction either on vinyl or CD. Hopefully RCA will re-issue this one someday down the road in time.