Dvorák: Violin Concerto / Elgar: Sonata for Violin and Piano ~ Vengerov [Live]

Antonin Dvorak (Composer), Edward Elgar (Composer), Kurt Masur (Conductor), New York Philharmonic (Orchestra), Revital Chachamov (Performer), Maxim Vengerov (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Revital Chachamov, Maxim Vengerov
• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic
• Conductor: Kurt Masur
• Composer: Antonin Dvorak, Edward Elgar
• Audio CD (January 16, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Teldec
• ASIN: B00004YS4C
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #280,450 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Vn Con in a, Op.53: Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Maxim Vengerov/New York Phil/Kurt Masur

2. Vn Con in a, Op.53: Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Maxim Vengerov/New York Phil/Kurt Masur

3. Vn Con in a, Op.53: Final: Allegro Giocoso, Ma Non Troppo - Maxim Vengerov/New York Phil/Kurt Masur

4. Son in e, Op.82: Allegro - Maxim Vengerov/Revital Chachamov/New York Phil/Kurt Masur

5. Son in e, Op.82: Andante - Maxim Vengerov/Revital Chachamov/New York Phil/Kurt Masur

6. Son in e, Op.82: Allegro Non Troppo - Maxim Vengerov/Revital Chachamov/New York Phil/Kurt Masur

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This is a wonderful recording, a perfect match between music and performer: two great but not overly familiar romantic works, played by a superb violinist with a romantic heart and young enough to be guided by his feelings and his imagination. Vengerov is a brilliant virtuoso, but the most immediately striking feature of his playing is his tone: dark, warm, radiant, intense, vibrant, infinitely variable, and unfailingly expressive. His Dvorák is broad and expansive, with time to caress every detail and Nuance. It combines freedom and dignified restraint, passion and serenity, sprightliness and melancholy, drama and lyricism. The orchestra supports and abets him every step of the way with total flexibility and empathy and sounds terrific. The Elgar was recorded a few years earlier and here, the romanticism is perhaps a bit excessive: tempo changes and dynamic contrasts are more drastic, there are long fermatas and pauses and a lot of slowing down and speeding up. However, the sentiment behind all these extremes is so genuine that it never becomes sentimentality, and the tone is beguilingly beautiful. The balance is exemplary, the pianist most excellent. Unaccountably, the booklet not only prints his name in very small letters, but does not say a word about him--a grave injustice to a fine collaborator. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Phenomenal Recording, March 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Dvorák: Violin Concerto / Elgar: Sonata for Violin and Piano ~ Vengerov (Audio CD)

This is a stunning recording of both the Dvorak & Elgar conertos. I agree with the previous reviewer - the pianist Ms. Hachamoff's performance is compassiontate, sensitive and vitruosic - she should have received more attention in the cd booklet. If someone knows of her solo recordings, let me know.

But to the artist at hand, Mr. Vengerov, whom I believe to be the finest violinst around - his interpretations are purely magical, his tone simply gorgeous - and this is one of the nicest classical recordings I have heard in sometime. Maxim Vengerov is a master - (anyone interested should also check out his recording of Tchiakovsky's Violin Concerto in D.)His technique, is simply outstanding.

Mr. Masur conducts gracefully - and the melodies on both the Dvorak and the not-as-known Elgar are truly beautiful. I recommend this disc to anyone - don't hesistate. Seriously, these works are gorgeous. And if anyone knows Mr. Vengerov's concert schedule please email me: [e-mail]

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compares well to the best version, November 11, 2005

By 

Larry VanDeSande - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dvorák: Violin Concerto / Elgar: Sonata for Violin and Piano ~ Vengerov (Audio CD)

Compared to the gold standard in the Dvorak -- the 1961 stereo recording by violinist Josef Suk and Karel Ancerl leading the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra -- this recording stacks up very well. In fact, the timings on each movement of Vengerov's concert recording in New York are within 20 seconds of those from the Suk recording three and one-half decades earlier, indicating the master recording served as the basis for this work, recorded in Avery Fisher Hall in 1997.

Verngerov, a clone of the late David Oistrakh, displays his ample romantic warmth during this romantic music while he keeps vibrato and extracurricular activities in check. His tone is universally warm and smooth, never grating or searing, and his attachment to the music is always direct. Masur and the New York Philharmonic support him well even though Masure keeps a tight reign on the orchestra, never allowing a solo instrument too much freedom within the scope of the accompaniment.

The dramatic Elgar sonata, recorded in studio with pianist Revital Chachamov in 1995, is an added bonus that make an appropriate coupling in my opinion. I'd rather have heard Vengerov take on a smaller scale and less well known concerto as match, perhaps the Martinu Concerto No. 2, that would have made this CD a more complete entity. The chamber music, which is played well and tastefully done, seems more like an add-on than a thougtfully considered partner.

Since most people will buy this for the Dvorak, the CD provides good value in a modern three dimensional recording that betters the Suk-Ancerl recording. Fans of Dvorak or Vengerov won't go wrong adding this performance to their collections.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vengerov's Dvorak Violin Concerto, A Definitive Performance, May 7, 2001

By 

John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dvorák: Violin Concerto / Elgar: Sonata for Violin and Piano ~ Vengerov (Audio CD)

Vengerov's recording of Dvorak's Violin Concerto with Kurt Masur conducting the New York Philharmonic is one of the finest recordings of violin concerti that I've heard. Vengerov plays with ample Slavonic passion, producing a silky tone pregnant with warmth. His performance is far more passionate than the equally fine recording of Itzhak Perlman as soloist with Daniel Barenboim conducting the London Philharmonic, which many regard as one of the definitive performances of Dvorak's violin concerto. Moreover, the sound quality is far better than Perlman's recording. And Teldec has done such a great job in recording a live performance that sounds more vibrant, without forsaking the precision of a studio recording.

Kurt Masur has a firm grip on the New York Philharmonic; this has to be among the orchestra's finest recordings made during Masur's tenure as its music director. Both he and the New York Philharmonic give a warm, vibrant reading of Dvorak's score that never overtakes Vengerov's brilliant performance.

The Elgar Violin Sonata is another fine performance, and an unexpected, though equally superb, coupling with the Dvorak Violin Concerto. The chemistry between Vengerov and his accompanist is first rate; it strikes me as being as warm and vibrant a performance as those I've heard with violinist Gidon Kremer and pianist Martha Argerich. Shame on Teldec for not giving a brief biography of the Elgar sonata's pianist.

Without a doubt, this has to rank as one of Teldec's best releases of the past year. And it joins Vengerov's commanding performance of the Brahms violin concerto as one of the finest artistic triumphs in this young violinist's critically acclaimed career.