Customer Reviews

The Kreisler Album: Joshua Bell Plays Music By Fritz Kreisler

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Most violinists love Kreisler; somewhere in his many compositions can be found a piece to suit all moods - grandiose, sensuous, playful, sparkling. Furthermore, many are sufficiently easy technically to be played by amateurs of very little talent, such as myself. Bell plays the pieces on this CD superbly; he clearly loves this music. Each piece he turns and inspects thoughtfully so that it shines from all its different facets; and the beautifully balanced selection of pieces illuminates

the essence of Fritz Kreisler's easy-going genius. This CD made me rush to pick up my violin and play again those pieces that I already knew, and to rush out and buy the music for some of the ones I didn't - for example I thought Bell's rendition of "Tempo di minuetto" was a revelation. Bell with this CD further establishes his position as a superb musician and one of the greatest of contemporary violinists, who is equally at home with the most demanding of large-scale concertos as with the most delicate chamber works. I feel sure Kreisler himself would have loved this performance. It is rare that one listens to a CD where one can think of nothing that could have been improved - except of course had it been twice as long! Come on Josh - there's a lot more Kreisler out there - give us Bell plays Kreisler II!

Perhaps because Fritz Kreisler was such a great musician himself, many have underestimated the difficulty of playing his music well. It is most definitely "ear candy," but just as candy can be a wonderful or poor, this music can be rendered marvelously or played without the charm, wit, and intelligence it deserves.

Joshua Bell plays it to perfection here. It is light, airy, open. Paul Coker's piano accompaniment is first rate -- in fact, wonderful.

If you like Fritz Kreisler's music, you should have this CD. Next to Kreisler himself, no one has ever played this music so well.

After listening to disc after disc after disc of violin works, one finds oneself thinking, "Where has the passion gone for playing violin?" Yes, absolutely astounding recordings abound, but very few offer the true passion of putting the bow to the strings. Technique and "flawless" fingerings have reduced the modern virtuosi to mere composition puppets. They are all "perfect". It is truly a joy to hear a violinist passionate about his playing and that comes across very elatedly with Mr. Bell playing the pieces from Kreisler. Every track is played as though he honestly enjoys it! A superb recording from the student of Gingold.

Anyone who ever dismissed Kreisler as a composer of cheap encore music is going to have to eat his/her words upon listening to this CD. Other violinists tend to treat Kreisler's works too roughly, or as encore pieces only a step above PDQ Bach. Violinists want to show off- it is their nature to be big and agressive and passionate in a fiery way. But that is not what is required here. A violinist has to throw him/herself wholeheartedly into the warmth and romanticism of these pieces to play them just right. And Joshua does that, better than anyone else save Kreisler himself. He obviously loves the music, has a great deal of fun playing it. He truly brings out the wit and charm in all of these pieces. As it turns out, Kreisler wrote some really good music. If you didn't notice that before, you will notice it in this CD.

While I bought this recording because I have loved Kreisler music for years, and I agree with the previous accolades, I was taken with the way Bell and his pianist complimented each other in their performance. I found myself listening to his piano and enjoying it, may I say, almost as much as Joshua Bell's wonderful talent. It was, I thought, in some ways, a duet.
I will certainly buy more Joshua Bell, and will look for Paul Coker on those recordings too.

One of the glories of living in Bloomington, Indiana, is that I am surrounded by world class music performance opportunities, and one of the occasional treats has been Joshua Bell, whose family lived in Bloomington during his youth; Bell frequently returns home to play in concerts.

This particular album was recorded in the mid-1990s, while Bell was exiting his 'child prodigy' stage and becoming a performer whose staying power was being rapidly confirmed. Bell is a technical genius, with playing that is nearly flawless and has great range of interpretation.

Fritz Kreisler is probably a name not known to many, but according to Bell, 'I consider Fritz Kreisler to have been the last in a long line of great violinst-composers, which stretches back as far as Tartini and Corelli.' Because of the insight the violinist virtuoso brings to composition, there is a special feel to the music, for the violinist composer knows what the instrument is capable of in terms of tone, spirit, and technical expertise.

Kreisler was born in Vienna in 1875, but spent much of his life and gained much of his experience in France, Germany, and America (where he eventually became a citizen). He used to play with his audiences by passing off his own compositions as new 'arrangements' of previously unknown Baroque and Classical pieces; of course, some colleagues in the music world knew the truth, but perhaps it was owing to Kreisler's modesty that he didn't want to offer too many of his own pieces in performances.

Joshua Bell continues to record and perform with power and style, but perhaps this album remains one the best of his performances. Recorded at the urging of Josef Gingold, his teacher and mentor (who did not live to see the production completed), it has a poignancy about it, as well as good-heartedness that comes through very clearly.

Bell is joined by pianist Paul Coker as a brilliant accompanist; the duo provide a powerful pair for the expression of Kreisler's music.

What can I say? Bell is probably the best of the young generation violinists these days. He brings so much charm to anything he does. Lush sound, yet light where need be... Such beautiful phrasing, so well ballanced. This recording can be heard again and again and again, even if the music itself is not terribly deep... I love it.

Joshua Bell's romantic, old fashioned style of play is really enhanced by Kreisler's work. Unlike many other modern violinists, Mr. Bell's timing is impeccable throughout and the listener gets a true feel for the music. After listening to his CD, you'll feel like waltzing! Evident throughout the CD is Mr. Bell's love of Kreisler's music and respect for both Fritz Kreisler and Mr. Bell's former teacher, Joseph Gingold (another huge Kreisler fan). This CD, dedicated to the late Mr. Gingold, is touching, fun, and moving.

Joshua Bell is obviously a master at what he does. This album shows he's a master at something else--making a piece of music even more beautiful and fun than even the composer intended.

I usually can't handle listening to endless violin concertos, (even when they're played by Josh, probably the best violinist of his generation and my personal favorite), so this recording gives me an easy way of listening to Josh's playing without stressing my patience. The shortness of Kreisler's compositions doesn't discount their attractiveness. In fact, because the longest piece on this album is under six minutes (Praeludium and Allegro), it leaves me wanting more... which means I just have to listen to it over and over!

I would be hard-pressed to name the "best" compositions on this album, but I will say that if you've heard "Tambourin chinois" played by anyone else, you will be stunned to hear Josh's version. Each piece sounds fresh and alive and completely lovely, especially with Paul Coker's fabulous piano accompaniment (so light and pretty!).

"Praeludium and Allegro" is fiesty, "Schon Rosmarin" is like dancing, "Caprice viennois" is romantic, "La Precieuse" is a miniature sonata, "Liebesfreud" is punchy, "Liebeslied" is lyrical, "La gitana" is moody, "Berceuse romantique" is heavenly, "Polichinelle" is playful, "Rondino" is classic, "Tempo di minuetto" is regal, "Toy-Soldiers' March" is a story in song, "Allegretto" is bright, "Marche miniature viennoise" is sexy, "Aucassin and Nicolette" is a love story, "Menuett" is heraldic, "Sicilienne and Rigaudon" is dramatic, and "Sycopation" is spirited. I almost feel like I'm listening to Josh sing these pieces rather than play them.

If you like the violin, or Joshua Bell, or or even just simply gorgeous music, you'll like this album--you'd have no reason not to.

I can't say it any better than anyone else has - but this CD is just fabulous. This was the first Joshua Bell CD I ever listened to, and and it is definitely one of my favorites. Most of these pieces are so light-hearted, and some so virtuose, that they will just make you smile. If you listened to this recording and liked it at all, I highly recommend Presenting Joshua Bell, Short Trip Home, and the Red Violin (as well as his many concerto discs) to hear some more great Joshua Bell music!