Customer Reviews

Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole; Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1

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Like the previous reviewer, I am reminded of a more innocent time whenever I come across the pairing of Ormandy and Stern. This is one of their best collaborations, now gorgeously remastered -- I doubt I've ever heard Strn's tone sound so natural and full. He's on fire in the Symphonie espagnole (did any work ever sound less Spansh?), and Ormandy is in high spirits. Columbia turned to him as their accompanist-in-chief, and it was one of his best roles.

The Bruch concerto is a more serious enterprise. Now that we have been flooded with showstopping virtuosos from the former Soviet Union, it's easy to forget a time in the sixties when Stern was more dominant in the public mind than Oistrakh. It's heartwarming to hear him in an involved, altogether absorbing performance. He digs into every phrase in the opening movement, fully the equal of Vengerov. After all, Stern's style was rooted in Russia (during a thaw in the Cold War he joked that a cultural exchange between the Soviet Union and America came down to "You sned us your violinists from Odessa and we'll send you our violinists from Odessa.")

The second movement of the Bruch is sweetly lyrical, the finale graced by effortless double stops and a sense of brio. Ormandy keeps up his end, and the Philadelphians are shown off in vintage Columbia Records stereo, with its wall-to-wall separation. In all, this is one of Sony's best commemorations of the two musicians and thoroughly enjoyable for anyone who was learning to love classical music back when.

If there is something to regard around Isaac Stern is his exuberant tone, radiant prasing and excel fingering: all these interpretative qualities became him one of the most sublime exponents of this noble instrument.

His Lalo is warmth and human. But his Bruch remains in a top level. Preciosism withhout affectation, sentiment without ostentation.

Both recordings are reminded and regarded by the conoisseurs as real musical treasures. But if besides, we take into account the opulence of the Phildalpehia under the baton of Ormandy, you will find no reason to let this recording passes in front of you.

It would be an artistic sin. So,don't miss it.

I bought the LP (don't ask me how many years ago), and have been searching for it on CD for some time (I live in an apartment, and haven't been able to set up my huge stereo setup including turntable for some years). I bought the Pinchas Zucherman recording of the same pieces, and though it was well-played, it just wasn't the same. Upon seeing this album,, I immediately sent for it, and I was not disappointed. It is THE performance of these two pieces by Bruch and Lalo. If you are not an Isaac Stern fan, do not bother. There are some composers for whom I prefer other violinists, but when it comes to Romantic violin, no one does it better than Mr. Stern. If you buy it and don't love it, send it to me, and I will give it to a music appreciation course.