Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto In E Minor, Op. 64 / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto In D Major, Op. 35

Felix [1] Mendelssohn (Composer), Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Eugene Ormandy (Conductor), Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra
• Conductor: Eugene Ormandy
• Composer: Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000025JL
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,281 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only recording I needed, June 12, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto In E Minor, Op. 64 / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto In D Major, Op. 35 (Audio CD)

This recording of these two classic violin concertos was the first I heard of Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky's masterful works. Since that time, I have heard countless other violinists toy with these virtuosic labyrinths, but the first masters the duo by far.

Isaac Stern does exactly what is required of the soloist in both concertos. The Mendelssohn he plays with a sort of cheerful melancholy, if that is indeed possible. The Concerto in D is given the serving of joy that it deserves without it being sickeningly sweet; it is given a fair amount of sadness as well. Paradoxical and ingenious, the compositions make one think a lot, and the talented Stern answers our questions and inspires new ones with each listen. Not only does the violinist hold us at the edge of our seats or lull us to sleep with his feeling, his technique is flawless. He does not attack each note; he weaves them together to form a brilliant recording.

Other fiddlers play it with too much feeling, or too much passiveness, and, of course, there is the plethora of those who aren't technically capable of the insane cadenzas. Stern has the right amount of everything.

The sound quality is not excellent; luckily, there are now some editions with more effectively remastered versions. But even if this is the only disc available, Stern is the one to hear. Also, his Brahms Violin Concerto and Double Concerto recordings in the same series are quite excellent.

Hopefully, all of you will sit back, relax, and be taken to another world.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavenly, June 27, 2003

By 

jbz (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto In E Minor, Op. 64 / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto In D Major, Op. 35 (Audio CD)

This is a great CD. I've owned it for 10 years and listened to it countless times. I continue to be amazed each time.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Needs Serious Remastering!, June 5, 2006

By 

Frederick Baptist (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto In E Minor, Op. 64 / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto In D Major, Op. 35 (Audio CD)

No doubting the quality of the compositions, the performances of said compositions but the sound quality is really very poor. Let's hope Sony gets its act together and remaster the entire "Great Performances" catalog using the best possible master source in the vaults and re-release them all in mini-lp replica sleeve packaging. I can dream, can't I?