Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 / Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1

Sergei Prokofiev (Composer), Dmitri Shostakovich (Composer), Mstislav Rostropovich (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Maxim Vengerov (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Maxim Vengerov
• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Mstislav Rostropovich
• Composer: Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich
• Audio CD (November 8, 1994)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Teldec
• ASIN: B000000SLM
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,251 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19: I. Andantino

2. Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19: II. Scherzo. Vivacissimo

3. Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19: III. Finale. Moderato

4. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 (published as Op. 99): 1. Nocturne: Moderato

5. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 (published as Op. 99): 2. Scherzo: Allegro

6. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 (published as Op. 99): 3. Passacaglia: Andante cadenza

7. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 (published as Op. 99): 4. Burlesque: Allegro con brio

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

With his brilliant tone, flawlessly centered intonation, jaw-dropping technique, and exquisitely beautiful phrasing, Maxim Vengerov is ideal in this repertory. His sparkling account of the Prokofiev conveys the music's mercurial shifts of color and mood with great élan, and turns wonderfully evocative in the ethereal pages. The interpretation of the Shostakovich is equally fine--strongly characterized and imaginative, haunting in its beauty. The young soloist is ably partnered by Mstislav Rostropovich, who draws some remarkably fine and suggestive playing out of an alert London Symphony Orchestra, and makes a convincing whole out of each score. Teldec's engineers take advantage of the Abbey Road venue to deliver a recording that, while predictably balanced in favor of the soloist, is detailed and nicely atmospheric. This disc won Gramophone magazine's Record of the Year award in 1995, and it comes impressively close to capturing the kind of electricity Vengerov generates onstage. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best recordings ever, July 18, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 / Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 (Audio CD)

This is quite the statement, I know, but feel I must join in with the seemingly universal praise for this album. This is by far the most superb recording of Shostakovich Violin Concerto no. 1 out there, for a piece that is in my opinion perhaps Shostakovich's absolute best. There are always a lot of comments about the piece as "banal" or standard, but whatever, this is the shostakovich sound at its finest, and perhaps at its most modern. It's a piece that he dared not perform while Stalin was still alive, and when you listen to it you'll hear why. I remember listening to it on the radio for the first time and thinking, especially during the second and fourth movements, that the striking dissonances and unrelenting motion surely must be the work of Bartok or some more "progressive" Eastern European composer, but the undeniable Russian-ess of the work shines through in the end. And the unmatchably powerful 1st and 3rd movements (especially the 3rd- my God!) could really be no one but Shostakovich.

That said, this performance definetely wins all the prizes for capturing the essense of the musicality on which the piece is based. The torment, the anguish, the stomping through life, Vengerev and his Stradivarius capture it perfectly. Just about every nuance in the solo performance is exactly the way it should be. Vengerev's tone stings you, it pierces right through the typically dark orchestration right to the soul. And Rostopovich is right there for the ride, in perfect counterbalance.

The only criticism I can think of for this album is that some of the orchestra tuttis are a bit muddy- there isn't the same clarity of recording that is devoted to the solo part. It sounds to me like perhaps the solo part had like three mics, and the rest of the orchestra had two. However, this hardly negates the imperative that you buy this album. The performances are unsurpassable. And, as an extra bonus, you get the Prokofiev no. 1, hardly a throw away piece, in fact an incredible piece of music, performance, and recording in it's own right (In fact, the recording techniques that I criticize work much better in this piece). However, it's not the show-stopping, breath-taking, heart-pounding, tear-jerking, death-defying magnum opus that is the Shostakovich Violin concerto no. 1. Buy it.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Marriage of Composers, Soloist, and Conductor, August 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: Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 / Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 (Audio CD)

It would be difficult to imagine a more perfect match for these two concerti than Maxim Vengerov and Mstislav Rostropovich. Not only do the two innately understand the shared Russian spirit inherent in Prokofiev's and Shostakovich's music, they also happen to be superb musicians who can make these two concerti appear simple to the ear when they require such an enormous degree of dexterity.

The phrasing and thematic exploration by Vengerov is astonishingly right and in every way and every moment his interpretation is mirrored by Rostropovich and the responsive London Symphony Orchestra. While music lovers will probably be more thrilled with the eloquent beauty of the Prokofiev (and this is certainly the finest recording I have heard of this concerto), Vengerov's virtuosity and clarity of technique should now bring others into the fold of devotees of the Shostakovich.

Recorded in 1994 this CD is remains the Gold Standard for these two spectacular concerti. The recording ambience is rich and full and almost as exciting as being in the concert hall. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, August 05

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only the most assured violinists need apply, April 18, 2002

By 

Bruce Hodges (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 / Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 (Audio CD)

I bought this disc mainly for the Shostakovich, arguably my favorite violin concerto. Its unusual structure begins with a mournful and elegiac slow movement, ending with a shimmering, haunting phrase as the violin and orchestra slowly fade out. The second movement is shorter -- about four minutes of whirling virtuosity that will certainly wake up anyone dozing.

The slow, passionate third movement is, in the right hands, one of the most supremely moving and beautiful in all violin literature, rising to a stirring climax. The raucous finale -- a mad, thrilling chase -- shows off a violinist's technique as superbly as anything ever written. This recording benefits from a white-hot soloist, a glowing orchestra and one of the world's greatest Shostakovich interpreters.

For reference, I do love Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg's feverish, slightly out-of-control recording (conducted by the composer's son, Maxim), as well as one by prodigious newcomer Hilary Hahn. But this version is outstanding in every way. The London Symphony Orchestra sounds terrific and Rostropovich demonstrates, yet again, that playing the cello is just one of his many talents.

The Prokofiev is a slightly different animal -- not quite as moving to my ears as the Shostakovich, but still a marvelous piece, and the performance is equally impressive. One reviewer used the word "sparkling" -- exactly the right word.

In short: two 20th-century violin masterpieces delivered with great sophistication and panache.