Mosaics: Violin Miniatures [Original recording remastered]

Michael Rabin (Artist), Pommers (Artist), Chopin (Artist), Wieniawski (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 12, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Angel Records
• ASIN: B00000GCAR
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,602 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Nocturne for piano No. 8 in D flat major, Op. 27/2, CT. 115

2. Caprice for violin & piano in A minor (transcription of work by Wieniawski)

3. Jeunes Filles au Jardin, arrangement for violin & piano (Scenes d'enfant No. 5)

4. Etude for piano in D flat major, Op. 8/10

5. La plus que lente, waltz for piano (or orchestra), L. 121

6. Malagueńa y Habanera, for violin & piano, Op. 21: No. 2 Habanera

7. La capricieuse -- morceau de genre, for violin & piano, Op. 17

8. Sea-Shell for violin & piano

9. Playera y zapateado, for violin & piano, Op. 23: Zapateado No.2

10. Vocalise-Étude en forme de Habanera, for voice & piano

11. The Love for Three Oranges, suite for orchestra, Op. 33 bis: March

12. Pieces (4) for violin & piano, Op. 17: No. 4: Burleska

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Michael Rabin streaked to fame as a teenager, touted as the inheritor of Heifetz's mantle. Alas, deep personal problems derailed his career and he died young in 1972. But his phenomenal recordings live on, sparking a cult following whose enthusiasm can be shared via this scintillating recital, made up of stereo bon-bons from 1959 and mono Bach and Ysaÿe sonatas from 1955. In an age inundated by adolescent fiddlers, its good to hear the real thing--a young man playing with technical wizardry and mature breadth unmatched by run-of-the-mill prodigies or, indeed, by seasoned veterans. For a taste of Rabin's unblemished virtuosity and infinitely varied coloristic sense, listen to the Mompou, played with languorously seductive wit, or the sentimental Engels piece, taken at a soulful wallow, or the blistering Sarasate "Zapatadeo," full of high-register hijinks, or, perhaps best of all, the Suk "Burleska," which features immaculate intonation at warp speeds. In the great Bach sonata, Rabin invests the opening Adagio with deep yearning and clarifies every strand of the big fugue that follows. This disc is 77 minutes of violinistic bliss. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars effervescent violin, October 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mosaics: Violin Miniatures (Audio CD)

This unexpected, delightful potpourri of violin pieces is bound to lift the heart and tickle the mind of even the most jaded and difficult-to-please fan of the instrument. Rabin's virtuoso style is at once playful and serious, in a way that seems impossible adequately to describe. The pieces are wonderful; several are new to the ear and evidently were composed to let the instrument show off in various ways. But even the Chopin nocturne that begins this cd is performed in a novel, rich, expansive style that seems, amazingly, both emotional and clinically detached. This recording is a joy in any context, but perfect for the car in heavy traffic, when shutting out a crude world has strong appeal.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Outstanding, January 28, 2010

By 

F. Rupert - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mosaics: Violin Miniatures (Audio CD)

Truly a wonderful recital. Rabin is one of the few violinists I have heard who could be mentioned in the same breath as Heifetz when it comes to technical accomplishment. The Bach C Major fugue and the Scriabin Etude in Thirds, not to mention the Ysaye Sonata, are real "finger twisters." Rabin delivers them with great panache and unbelievable technical security. You can just forget their forbidding difficulty and enjoy the music. Wow.