Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante · Concerto for violin, piano & orchestra / Midori · Imai · Eschenbach

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Artist), Christoph Eschenbach (Artist), Midori (Goto) (Artist), Nobuko Imai (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 26, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005LNGU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #259,845 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #79 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Symphonies > Sinfonia Concertante

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshingly new Mozart, July 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante · Concerto for violin, piano & orchestra / Midori · Imai · Eschenbach (Audio CD)

This Sinfonia Concertante has some amazingly beautiful moments created by Midori and Imai. The air flows so naturally between the two with such an intimacy, and the music expands with full of youthful energy. Midori's playing is elegant with a sharp edge and Imai has sense of fun and joy in her playing. It seems to me that the editorial reviewer sounds very conservative and does not know very much about the piece. It was Imai who needed re-fingering for the retuned Viola, not Midori. Though the editorial reviewer is trying to focus on the novelty things from his narrow minded point of view, I don't see the intention of "trying so hard to do something new from others" from this performance. The communication between the two is excellent and there are some refreshing expressions, which form beautiful climaxes in the piece. Coupling "Concerto for Violin and Piano" is an interestingly charming and Eschenbach has returned to the piano seat gracefully. An excellent CD.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genteel and Dignified Performances, July 15, 2005

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante · Concerto for violin, piano & orchestra / Midori · Imai · Eschenbach (Audio CD)

The 'Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, K 364/320D' is one of those refined works that is so well written that it exudes genius. Composed for violin, viola, and orchestra the work is a conversation with the two instruments with a beautifully woven tapestry of comment for the orchestra. Violinist Midori and violist Nobuko Imai are not only well paired in technique and virtuosity, they find a compatibility of discourse that is refreshingly fine. Christoph Eschenbach conducts the Norddeutscher Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester with grace and sensitive collaboration. The work is a complete success.

The Philip Wilby reconstruction of the accompanying concerto for violin and piano is a fine little piece, if not in the same realm as the Sinfonia Concertante. The performance of this uneven work makes up for the inconsistencies that arise when sonatas are adapted for orchestra. Midori again focuses on her pliant, clear technique and is matched by Christoph Eschenbach's piano role as well as his conducting. It is a minor work played in a major manner. The recorded sound is clean and resonant and the CD is well worth placing in every Mozart lover's library. Grady Harp, July 05

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Viola "Scordatura" Blew Me Away, January 27, 2003

By 

Bay Gibbons (Salt Lake City, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante · Concerto for violin, piano & orchestra / Midori · Imai · Eschenbach (Audio CD)

I was blown away by this new recording of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major for violin, viola and orchestra. The viola part in this piece has always moved me, but never to the degree of this version. Reading the liner notes I learn that Mozart's manuscript instructions call for the scordatura (literally, the "mistuning") of the solo viola. The part is written in D Major, but the viola's strings are tightened and tuned a half not higher, to E-flat, giving the instrument extra brightness and greater projection. In this recording it gives the solo viola a unique sound and brilliance of its own. The soloist, Nobuko Imai is quoted in the liner notes as saying that the mistuning gives her instrument "another dimension," and the added tension allows her to achieve notes "with so much less force, and yet with greater security."

I suppose the lesson is that it makes sense to follow the composer's instructions on the manuscript.