Mendelssohn, Bruch: Violin Concertos

Max Bruch (Composer), Felix [1] Mendelssohn (Composer), Giuseppe Sinopoli (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra of London
• Conductor: Giuseppe Sinopoli
• Composer: Max Bruch, Felix [1] Mendelssohn
• Audio CD (March 30, 1990)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GB8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,253 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No finer performance of either work., December 16, 1998

By 

D. R. Schryer (Poquoson, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mendelssohn, Bruch: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

Gil Shaham's performance of the Bruch Concerto has no competetion. It is simply sublime. His performance of the Mendelssohn Concerto is also outstanding, nudging out my previous favorite -- the superb performance by Frank Peter Zimmermann which, regretably, is currently out of print. Shaham is an excellent violinist with a uniquely gorgeous tone. Some of his recent performances, while gorgeously played, have disappointed me somewhat artistically. But not this album (which I believe was his debut recording). This is one of the two or three greatest violin recordings I have ever heard.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get it for the Bruch, June 3, 2002

By 

laurie (Williamsburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mendelssohn, Bruch: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

This is one of the finest recordings of the Bruch violin concerto (#1). I think it ranks up there with the Heifetz/Sargent. Of course Heifetz takes each movement a bit faster, but the slightly slower tempos do not make much difference (unlike in many Brahms vl.c. recordings.) The sound quality is much better, with good balance, and the orchestra playing is smooth and fluid and clear. Some recordings like Perlman/Haitink seem to have very bombastic orchestral entrances at some places. That is not the case here - Sinopoli is exciting without beating you upside the head.

As for Shaham, he is also very good - no technical problems, and a very clear silky sound. He is not as melodramatic as Mutter (which seems too unruly/melodramatic to me), but this is a romantic intrepretation nonetheless. There is some very interesting, dramatic sliding in the first movement (around 4'20?) before the big orchestral entrance - I've never heard anyone do that before. Definitely worth checking out.

The Mendelssohn I would give four stars - the first movement seems a little slow and less inspired. The second movement is beautiful, but once again, the third is not so exciting as in the Bruch. Perhaps it is that Shaham seems a little heavy handed - there are more sprightly readings out there. I like a Milstein or Menuhin better for the Mendelssohn. This is still a fine recording, but after the Bruch it seems anticlimactic.
So I recommend the CD - Heifetz fans can stick with Heifetz if they want, but anyone looking for a good modern recording of the Bruch should try this one.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensuous and powerful, December 18, 2004

By 

Steve Sanders "Steve Sanders" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mendelssohn, Bruch: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

These are sensuous recordings. Shaham plays with both technical fire and (especially in the Mendelssohn) pleasing sweetness. The orchestra -- large and lush in the Bruch, a bit more restrained in the Mendelssohn -- plays with discipline, precision, and power, and the sonics are very satisfying. These surely count as exemplary if not definitive modern renditions of these two classic concerti.