Customer Reviews

Bruch: Scottish Fantasy / Violin Concerto No. 2 ~ Perlman / Mehta

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In Queen Victoria's time there was a sentimental craze for all tings Scottish, and Bruch's haunting Scottish Fantasy is the perfect embodiment of it, second only to Sir Walter Scott's novels. But even now, because of the lovely folksongs that Bruch set, this musical evocation of the Highlands can bring a tear. That's what Perlman and Mehta try to do, and I was happy to go along with their sweet, soulful rendition.

Heifetz has always been the gold standard in the Scottish Fantasy, but he sounds aloof and steely by comparison. Even Kyung Wha-Chung's notable account on Decca doesn't come close, because Perlman spins a lyric line and silvery tone that pulls the listener in emotionally more than I've ever heard before. EMI's up-close sound is also very appealing.

I heard this being played on our clasical FM station. It was so moving and beautiful that I called the station before it ended and wrote down the name of the CD...and oredered it immediately. A must have!

Perlman displays his usual virtuostic technique without any of the idiosyncratic playing typical of Jascha Heifetz, who has "owned" this repertoire for many years.

The Bruch pieces are generally not considered masterpieces in the vein of the Beethoven Violin concerto, but Perlman elevates both the Fantasy and the Concerto to new levels of attraction.

The recording is outstanding; very balanced and the dynamic range is perfect. Highly recommended.

Ive recently bought or heard two other recordings of the Scottish Fantasy and they both had severe deficiencies: the first was rushed, and the second had a poor orchestra playing. This recording, finally, is acceptable, and quite good really. This piece must be played slowly enough to let you daydream a little bit, and to daydream you dont want to be hearing strange phrasings on so on: the music must flow like brook, or a soft breeze. Perlman plays it very straight, but very well. The thing about Bruch Ive found, as a violin player, is that his music requires a lot of emotion, which translates into energy. The best recording Ive ever heard was by David Oistrachk. On the Perlman recording here, the one deficiency is that the orchestra is not given enough volume in some key parts of the mix. The orchestra plays very well, but they sound a little thin, and for the Scottish Fantasy, I prefer a thick 1940s MGM orchestra sound. This is romantic music! Schmaltz it up, I say. This music is something that rich old ladies in Pasadena listen to on their vintage Victrolas, maybe while pruning roses outside the livingroom window. It brings a tear to the eye, you know? This is a good recording, but Oistrachk plays it better.

I have to agree with the previous reviewer. I heard it on a music station and came straight here.

I heard one other, too, that was even *more* beautiful than this! Saint-Saens, Violin Concerto #3 in Bm OP.61 Soloist: Gil Shaham, violin Performed By: New York Philharmonic Conductor: Guiseppe Sinopoli Album: Deutsche-Grammaphone, 1991. Pagannini Violin Concerto #1, Saint-Saens, #3 439-786-2

I recognise what the other commenters said about the characteristics of this product, like the balance (weak orchestra compared to violin), and the unsophisticated interpretation.

But my opinion is that I love it. I like the straight, raw, passionate style, which also has a lot of dynamic and control. Because the balance between him and the orchastra is in his favor, it sounds like he has the lead, he plays and interacts with the orchestra. I think it serves the recording as a whole. It's got a lot of drama and testosteron to it and it's played with total conviction.

This is a very satisfying version by Perlman and Mehta, and one could certainly do worse than this recording. As another reviewer noted, Perlman takes a pretty straightforward approach to the music. This is just fine, although I find myself feeling that he could drawn a bit more out of what is a very beautiful violin piece. The other fault on this recording (as, once again, another reviewer has noted) is that the balance between orchestra & soloist is often not good at all. The orchestra seems noticeably weak throughout, which detracts from the overall quality of the recording.

Also, the listener will discover that there is a good reason that the Bruch Concerto #1 is the only one of the three that is heard regularly. The 2nd Concerto, while nice enough, is an average work that needs a top-notch performance to make it even remotely interesting. Anybody expecting a D-minor version of the 1st Concerto is going to be disappointed.

Nevertheless, overall this is a very nice recording --- 4 stars with some reservations.

I received the Scottish Fantasy as a gift (33 LP) in 1968. I have never forgotten the music, and have truly loved hearing it again and again over the years. I finally decided to purchase the CD and play the music whenever I want...and not have to wait to hear it on the radio! Violin pieces are special because I played violin in my Junior, Senior, and All City Symphony Orchestras in Houston TX, 1959 thru 1965.

I got this cd and Dvorak: Violin Concerto, Romance from the Musical Heritage Society, because I forgot to cancel the special of the month. Well I'm glad I didn't because this is some good classical music. I'm not really into the violin, but this cd surprised me. This is, in my opinion, violin at its best.Itzhak Perlman does such a fantastic performance here. I believe I have become a fan of his work because he is a master of the violinof all time. I never grow tired of listening to this album, and all the tracks are good. I would have to say track number four is my favorite, though. I recomend this cd to anyone who likes classical music, Bruch, or who has good musical taste.