Customer Reviews

Eugene Levinson, Principal Double Bass of the New York Philharmonic

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Eugene Levinson, Principal Bass of the New York Philharmonic, is also one of the all-time leading virtuoso soloists on the instrument. This album presents him in top form, performing a wide range of material, ranging from the classical clarity of his own transcription of Beethoven's Op. 17 Horn Sonata in F, a transcendant performance of Bruch's Kol Nidrei, incisive and penetrating interpretation of the Hindemith Sonata, charming Russian miniatures by Koussevitsky and Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff's Elegiac Trio (Levinson performs the cello part at pitch, ably accompanied by his wife, Gina, and son and Philharmonic colleague, Gary Levinson, on violin), to the exotic Dance of Life by Behzad Ranjbaran (b. 1955), dedicated to and premiered by Eugene and Gary Levinson.

Eugene Levinson gets everything he wants out of the bass, and he is an exacting, demanding perfectionist of a musician. This album raises the bar for what can be expected from the double bass. It is easily one of the most significant and enjoyable bass recordings of the current generation of players.

This album is one in a Cala Records series featuring principal players of the New York Philharmonic in recital. All the ones I have heard have been great. It is inspiring to hear these top symphonic players highlighted as the outstanding solists and chamber musicians that they also must be.

One might think a series of CDs titled "New York Legends" would provoke a tad of discomfort on the part its performers. Suggesting, "I am a musical legend," even at the behest of a record label, is, at best, indelicate. Several members of the Philharmonic have succumbed.

From bassist Eugene Levinson's CD, I listened to Paul Hindemith's legendary Sonata (1949). Levinson pays due regard to Hindemith's legendary "Neo-classicism" and plays this piece as elevated "Gebrauchsmusik"--Translation: very clean and very dull.

The last movement is the heart of the work, a rare (for Hindemith) traditional theme and variations. It is as fine as anything the composer ever wrote. Here Mr. Levinson displays a confounding lack of musical imagination (artistry). The individual character of the variations faintly register, no unusual corners are investigated, no phrases enlighten, everything is very straight. Hindemith's very contemporary and beautiful musical language is glossed over--a very superficial performance.

"Neo-classicism" is not a prescription for performance--it is a hackneyed label for music students. Maria Yudina and Rodion Azarkhin recorded this work, and in their hands a small scale musical masterpiece emerges.

I am so happy to have found this CD. Levinson is a giant among bassists and pedagogues. It is a delight to hear him and his wife Gina on piano and his son Gary on violin. Breathtaking and easy to listen to without apprehension. Ranjbaran, Beethoven, Bruch, Hindemith, Koussevitsky, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff are most beautifully played. A must for any serious double bassist or collector.

I'm an undergrad bass student, and I hadnt hear of soem of the repertoire here, yet still was greatly enthralled by levinsons playing. also, for those who are looking for a bass player to model after, heres a good choice, seeing as hes the princple of the new york philharmonic.

Exciting performances, and good sound quality, I'd highly recommend it.

This CD is amazing, though Dance of Life is absolutley the best track, I'm a student at Juilliard, and one of my teachers is the composer (Behzad Ranjbaran), which is really cool!