Customer Reviews

Debut

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

 

 

What can I say that does not smack of praise for this debut album by one of the most gifted young violinists ever of the millennium?

The one thing that I find lacking in most violinists' playing is ... fire. Oh, of course, techincal ability ranks high on the list but one has to agree that most of the prodigial virtuosi we've heard so far have most of that particular area of playing down-pat. Chang certainly has the lightning-quick fingers required for virtually all of the songs she plays here, but as the Amazon.com review states -- she also plays with a good deal of _bite_. The deciding pieces are, in no particular order: Sarasate's very famous miniatures from Carmen, the Sabre Dance from Gayane (wonderfully played, with the tempo bright and fast-moving), Gershwin's It Ain't Necessarily So (when I first heard this track, I was in heaven! What jazzy playing for one so young! The violin literally sings and swoons in her capable hands), and Prokofiev's March from The Love of Three Oranges. The last piece, compared to Midori's version (which can be found on her "Encore!" CD), I feel, is better performed -- the speed and spear-driven flashes of the bow are just right. Midori overperforms on a song that's supposed to be a march.

Immaculate technique, remarkably good tone for a quarter-sized violin, and wonderful musicality for a nine-year-old. Of course, she still has some room for improvement artistically.

Her interpretation of Gershwin's "It ain't necessarily so" is the most sensuous (almost lascivious!) one I've ever heard--such abundant, luscious, provocative slides! Nonetheless, I love it!

This disc is an interesting historical document: hear how well a nine-year-old human can play. No other violinist in history ever recorded at such a young age.

Debut is a 1992 EMI Classics recording starring violinist Sarah Chang and pianist Sandra Rivers. At the time of the record Ms Chang was only 9 years old and this makes her skills as a violinist quite remarkable. Gary Starr has written the music notes. We get to hear Elgar, Chopin, and Liszt to mention a few. Highly recommended indeed. 5/5.