Customer Reviews

Concertos From My Childhood / Perlman, Foster

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I recently purchased this CD for my son who is learning the Accolay concerto. It is difficult to find a recording of this concerto, presumably because it is considered a stepping stone on the path to becoming a violinist. Yet Itzhak Perlman demonstrates that even the simplest of works can sound virtuosic if delicately rendered. This album is a gift of inspiration to all those who aspire to learn how to transform mere music into magic. I found Amazon's listing of this album to be a bit confusing. This collection includes the following selections: Rieding (Concerto in B minor), Seitz (Schuler-Konzert #2), Accolay (Concerto in A minor), De Beriot (Scene de Ballet), and Viotti (Concerto in A minor).

First of all, I beg to differ with the editorial review of this CD, and add that the review made me hopping mad, to put it mildly. This CD was and remains to be both a COMFORT and an INSPIRATION to me as a student violinist. From the basic Seitz to the bridging-the-gap Accolay to the Viotti, Perlman gives each the consideration and perfection it is entitled to. Students who are discouraged, as I have been, with their progress in peices they are tempted to consider "babyish" will not be discouraged by this CD; rather, they will be inspired by the level of excellence and consideration that is given the concertos by Perlman. By the time a student is at the level to play the Accolay concerto, or the Viotti, that student is anxious to move on from the student repitoire into the world of "real" music. Thus, it is a real encouragement to hear these peices taken seriously.

Perlman cannot be given too much credit for what he has done by recording this great CD. Not only is he a master of his trade, but also charismatic and enthusiastic to help young musicians.

Perhaps we are all a bit too sophisticated. This recording, with the stated purpose of letting students hear a master play them, is a joy to listen to. There is little pyrotechics or flashy playing, in fact much is "first position" playing. While a student may aspire to equal the master in playing these pieces, they are also quite listenable.

As a "student violinist" I appreciate both the artistry and simplicity of these works. It is all good music that has been too easily relegated to the areana of student recitals.

Most of us will never share the stage with violinists the calibre of Perlman, but we can play and enjoy the same music. Thank you Mr. Pearlman.

I purchased this album a month or so ago, for the Accolay Concerto, as I will be performing it in an upcoming competition. As has been aforesaid, a recording of Accolay is incredibly hard to find. Perlman plays the piece with unmatched musicality, and is accompanied by the prestigious Juliard orchestra. The recording quality is crystalline, to the point that I have learned the first movement of the first piece, just by listening to this track and playing along. The Seitz concerto is also performed very well. Any Suzuki violin student, having reached Book 4, will want to purchase this CD for that piece alone. Even non-violinists will fall in love with the beautiful selection of work and the romance that Perlman incorporates into the most simple of concertos.

Perlman plays four concertos and one ballet scene that are usually played by intermediate level violin students. Recordings of these pieces are hard to find, so it is nice that a master of the violin decided to make a recording using a student orchestra at Juilliard. Perlman does a wonderful job of playing simple music. It is nice for children to have a recording showing them how one of the world's best violinists makes their beginner concertos into beautiful music. I highly recommend it for Suzuki students in Vol. 4 who are beginning to play concertos (the first Seitz in Vol. 4 is the 3rd movement of the Seitz Concerto no. 2 on this CD). It is nice to hear the concertos with full orchestra, instead of the usual violin plus piano that is usually found on the Suzuki CDs.

The music itself is simple: it is aimed at children who are intermediate violin students, not Symphony Hall. The first two concertos are played in first position only. If you're looking for Perlman playing advanced music with all the "bells and whistles", then this is not the CD for you: you should look for his recordings of the standard adult repertoire. If you're looking for a CD to please your intermediate level violinist, then this one will likely do the trick. My 9 year old daughter loves it.

This CD is wonderful. Itzhak Perlman is a great virtuoso. This CD especially helped me, since I am learning the Accolay Concerto. The Accolay is much easier to play when you have a GREAT standard to listen to!

Perlman performs concertos that violin students study when they are first learning to play the instrument. These pieces are simple and elegant yet brilliant. And of course they are beautifully performed by Perlman and the Julliard Orchestra. You should buy this album for any child you know who is studying the violin -- or any instrument, for that matter.

This unique album, in which Itzhak Perlman shows his wonderful talent better than ever, is a good demonstration to use for young musical starters. The album starts out easy and gets more and more difficult in the techniques and styles of playing the violin. I have been playing the violin myself for quite some time now and have just completed the Schueler-Conzert no.2 by using it as an audition piece for a scholarship. I now plan to move on to the next piece which is quite a step more difficult than the first two. Of the many Itzhak Perlman albums I have, I would definitely recommend this one to teenagers and young adults. It's worth getting!

This CD is to be highly recommended to any young aspiring violinist seeking either to learn and study these pieces, or to simply enjoy them. It is a rare treat, and the listener's good fortune to have these student pieces given the loving artistic attention of one of the greatest violinists of all time.

I find the Amazon reviewer's comments to be utterly ridiculous that listening to these pieces would discourage young students... that is unless she is suggesting they aspire to mediocrity.

By all means, DO NOT KEEP THIS CD FROM YOUR KIDS!!!

I am a student in violin that was recently studying Accolay and this CD has made it so much easier for me to play it. It gives you the romantic feeling and elegance. This is very relaxing music for anyone. If you are a student in any string instrument, this CD would be very helpful to catch the style of this piece.