Customer Reviews

Oistrakh Edition

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4 star:		(1)
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This set collects performances of various vintages and sonic quality from the former Soviet Meloydia label. Some of the performances are available elsewhere, and some have been bettered by the same artist under different conductors. However, the range and beauty of pieces and performance quality in this set is perhaps unparalleled, making it, in my opinion, the single most rewarding introduction to great 19th and 20th century violin reperatory currently available. To have in a single moderately-priced set the Brahms, Dvorak, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky concerti, along with the Bartok, Brahms, Franck and Shostakovich sonatas, is itself wonderful. But every single performance is among the best in the catalogue. The violinist Oistrakh's intelligence and emotive nature are on display everywhere. The partnership with the pianist RIchter on the two sonata CDs is remarkable. I remember the Brahms and Franck sonata performances from my early youth, and they still are moving and poignant beyond belief. If you have even the slightest curiosity about classical music for the violin and don't mind a little dated sound, do yourself a favor and snap up this set.

Reviewer David Mednicoff is exactly right about this set. All the concerto performances are terrific, but the two discs of sonatas (Brahms #2 & 3; Frank; Shostakovich [the live world premiere] and Bartok) with Richter are really something else. Amazing.

Perhaps the great accomplishment in playing an instrument is to play it naturally, as if it were like breathing. Few artists prove this point as well as Oistrakh, the Soviet Union's artist, a true symbol of the Russian's school of music's excellence. As some other reviewer said, this is a moment of true musical orgasm. As an aspiring violinist, hearing Oistrakh's effortless rendition of the Tchaikovsky brings one almost to tears before such greatness. Some may complain about his dated method, but I favor it above any other artist, and highly recommend his interpretation of both the Brahms and the Tchaikovsky. Considering the fact that people didn't walk out of his performance of the pieces while a bombing raid was going on (during WWII), the man's musical prowess is second to none. Of special attention is the Brahms Sonata in A Major with Richter, easily one of the purest performances of the piece.

These recordings are, for the most part, great performances of some of Oistrakh's favorite peices. Starting with the best, the Brahms conterto is just breathtaking. I've never heard a performance with such technical command and effortlessness. This performance is definately one my favorites of the concerto. Henry Roth says that this is Oistrakh's best recording of the peice. I fully agree. The mono sound is a little shaky in some spots but that doesn't bother me a bit! With a performance like this, it's hardly noticable. The Sibelius and Tchicawsky are less technically solid, both recorded later in his career, but nevertheless, are exciting performances. His Dvorak is technically perfect and is also a very exciting performance. But the real treasures here are the recordings with the wonderful Sviatislav Richter. I just can't say enough about this all-star combination! The Brahms and Frank sonatas are unmistably the best performances around. Reviews by The New York Times and String magizine agree that the recordings with Richter are the highlights of the set.

This is probably my favorite boxed set of anything, ever. Each disc has its own merits but the Brahms and Franck are passionate and sublime, the Bartok is everything you want your Bartok to be, and of course the Tchaikovsky is without comparison. Long live King David!

It's a great collection. Oistrakh played each piece with ease and humanity as he was known for in the violin music world. His tone was poised, refined and conveyed unsurpassed warmness that very few violinists in the past or present were in his peers. I personally find the Sibelius and the Tschaikovsky concerti to be the most well-executed both technically and musically. Although there were a few dainted spots here and there, but the musicality and the incomparable tonal beauty let us easily forget these minor technical flaws and enjoy every kind of human emotion that he expressed with his relaxed, unforced and passionate playing. This collection is definitely a must in a music lover's collection. ��è�������ƂÄ�à��������'����΂í���è�Ü���I

A mandatory purchase (at a bargain price!) for all violin lovers- it contains some of Oistrakh's greatest recorded performances, including mind-boggling performances of the Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Brahms and and Dvorak concerti as well as the famous sonata recordings with Richter. Please, BMG, could we have more such treasures from Melodiya's legendary vaults?

David Oistrakh has arguably the best pure tone of all who have ever played the violin--bar none.

ah~~~

that is the moment of artistic orgasm!

among this series, aforementioned two sonatas

are the best of the best!

in my early days....

that musics moved me so much...

this is the only reason why i bought this edition