Play Favorite Standards

Yehudi Menuhin (Artist), Stephane Grappelli (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000026BYI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,037 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars always a winning pair, January 28, 2001

By 

"miller_k77" (Tallahassee, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Play Favorite Standards (Audio CD)

You simply can't go wrong with a combination of two of the most talented violinists of our time. This cd is a wonderful showcase for them both and the choice of music is the greatest classics. It's a fun, winner of a cd.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A strange experience..., November 2, 2003

By 

Rahul Siddharthan (Chennai, India) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Play Favorite Standards (Audio CD)

They're both brilliant violinists but in very different genres, and Menuhin by his own admission never learned to improvise (unlike many of today's classical performers): he was trained in the post-Liszt, pre-jazz window when improvisation had died out in classical music and even cadenzas followed the score strictly (if Beethoven didn't write one, play Kreisler's). And it shows, rather painfully. He achieves a brilliant tone but that's about it: he plays these Broadway tunes completely "straight", and any student could do that equally well.

The CD is worthwhile for its curiosity value, but you'd get much better musical value buying Grappelli's jazz and Menuhin's classical recordings separately.

5.0 out of 5 stars Menuhin & Grappelli Play, November 22, 2008

By 

David deJongh (Carrollton, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Play Favorite Standards (Audio CD)

I was really surprised at how much I've come to like this collection. I was brought up in a musical household, and my father was known as a "swing cellist" back in the 40's and 50's when he played professionally. My wife dismisses this as "old fogey" music (although she still likes Cliff Richard), and my daughter insists on Pink Floyd, Brian Eno and Blondie in the car. So I'm only allowed to play this kind of thing when I'm on my own.
I am rarely a fan of "crossover" productions - classical singers attempting pop, or vice versa. Much as I like Sting, I'd much prefer Emma Kirkby singing Dowland. And as for the insufferable Michael Bolton - well, please!
These guys, on the other hand, are obviously having a great time together, executing the superb arrangements exquisitely, and for me, at least, bringing back memories of a happy childhood.
Note that this album has been reissued with a different packaging, so you don't have to pay through the nose for an aftermarket copy. Take the time to listen to the excerpts here on Amazon - if you like the music of this era, I think you'll be hooked.