Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 / Glazunov: Violin Concerto / Tchaikovsky: Meditation

Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov (Composer), Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Sergei Prokofiev (Composer), Marriss Jansons (Conductor), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Nikolaj Znaider (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Nikolaj Znaider
• Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Marriss Jansons
• Composer: Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Prokofiev
• Audio CD (March 19, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00006313T
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,005 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great career is launched, October 16, 2005

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 / Glazunov: Violin Concerto / Tchaikovsky: Meditation (Audio CD)

Two nights ago while visiting Chicago I heard Nikolaj Znaider live, and it was a cpativating experience. I rushed home and bought this, his first CD, and it fulfills the promise of what I heard (he performed the Mendelssohn concerto with the CSO under Barenboim and has just recorded it). The Amazon reviewer has stated everything perfectly: Znaider is a virtuoso second and a musicain first, never intruding himself into the compoer's total conception. He plays a gorgeous Stradivarius, caught on this CD very well in quite closely miked sound.

To show you how unassuming this virtuoso is, the second half of the CSO program was devoted to the Mahelr Fifth. Without fanfare Znaider sneaked into the back row of the first violins and played along, and he even turned the pages for his desk mate!

There are fine versions of the Prokofiev Second around, but Znaider is competitive with all of them. HIs is better conducted (by Maris Jansons) than the vengerov or Shaham recordings I previously favored. If you want warm, lyrical violin playing to melt the heart a la Joshua Bell, rest asured that Znaider is off to a great career with exactly that style.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awarded Rosette Award from Penguin Guide to Recorded Classical Music, September 7, 2008

By 

T. Carlsen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 / Glazunov: Violin Concerto / Tchaikovsky: Meditation (Audio CD)

The Glazunov piece is amazing! I highly recommend that as an MP3 download. The entire album is good, but the violin playing in the Glazunov is very special.

This album received a Rosette designations from Penguin Guide. It also received a strong review from Gramophone, which called it "a confident, abundantly characterful account... Znaider brings an extra lyrical ardour and tender intimacy to Prokofiev's soaring melodies, not to mention a greater rhythmic swagger in the finale. But what really lifts this account to special heights is the chamber-like rapport and concentration Znaider generates with Mariss Jansons and the Bavarian Radio SO..."

If you have an MP3 player, download the Glazanov for sure. I have not heard better. The Tchaikovsky is excellent. The Prokofiev is very good, but I have heard just as good elsewhere.