Customer Reviews

Itzhak Perlman - Sarasate: Carmen Fantasy ~ Zigeunerweisen

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

 

 

I first heard this recording on the way to work one morning. Nearing the parking lot of my building, and enraptured by the artistry and the pristine sound of the Carmen Fantasy, I parked the car and listened to the entire work, even though it had just begun, and I was late. I HAD to own it!!!!!!! People stared as I sat in the car and "conducted" along with it, listening to every nuance. So what???? This is without a doubt one of the best CD's on the market! By all means buy it!

Itzhak Perlman, a widley renowned virtuoso, does not always impress me. However, this recording certainly did. Although he tends to sometimes crash his bow down, there is a brilliance and a delicacy to his playing. The last movement of Carmen is clear and the intonation is good. The tempo of the third movement is too fast for my taste. The other work that I really loved was Caprice Basque. He has a certain disregard for the score (dynamic wise,) but the performance is wonderful. Sarasate was known for his intonation in the high registers, and Perlman's is great also. The part of this CD that meant the most to me, though, is that you can hear the passion with which he plays. It's difficult, even for the most musical of performers, to bring that through on a recording, but Perlman manages it - really well.

I have been a Sarasate fan for quite some time. I just couldn't find a CD with more than one or two of his pieces. Then I found this CD. With the exception of "introductions and tantarelle" and "jota navarra" this CD has every sarasate piece for the violin you could want. Not only that, but the sound of this CD is superb, and coupled with the right sound system, can be a breathtaking pleasure to listen to. Perlman is the perfect choice for this music. His concertos are good, but not Heifetz good, but his short encore pieces like this are the best I've heard. (except for the Zigeunerwisen, Buy the Heifetz showpieces CD, it has the best Zigeunerwisen ever) When I heard Perlman play "dance of the goblins" by bazzini (buy the CD "Greatest violin encores") his left had pizz was not too great, but in this CD he hits every note perfectly, I love it.
Buy this collection now, you'll never find a better one, ever.

Instantly recognisable, emotionaly intrusive, Perman transports you to the Iberian peninsual with playing of such an expressive nture that we almosrt crashed the car when we heard it for the first time. Unmissable

Buy it !!!
The playing is beautiful, done by a Master. I am more of a rock musician that was looking for something above and beyond what I was used to. This did it for me in every way (Technique, Musicianship, Composed well, Magical). The recording itself is also done very well. A pleasant sounding CD.