Customer Reviews

Romance of the Violin

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Violinist Joshua Bell's latest offering, Romance of the Violin, captures the dreamy abandon of an intimate visit. Bell infuses Craig Leon's lush arrangements with a sensitive lyricism that results in sumptuous readings without the slightest trace of sentimentality or self-consciousness. Each timeless, classic melody has been recast to lend itself not only to the breadth and depth of the violin in general, but to the unique pointed, glistening nuance of this violinist in particular. Bell conveys the breathless anticipation of a rendezvous with a lover who greets his adored with a serenade before climbing up the trellis to embrace her. This recording calls to mind those moments when time stands still: catching a glimpse of fire-streaked clouds at sunset or falling under the gaze of one's beloved. Absolutely Joshua Bell at his finest. Heavenly.

Joshua Bell is one of the leading violinists of our time. Still only in his 30's, he enjoys immense success and popularity in every recital and concert hall here in the States and around the world. He is blessed with the gift of using romantic inflection in his mastership of the violin. And so what if some people find his playing overly sentimental, sweet or overwhelmingly romantic. The violin is itself a romantic instrument. In fact, it's meant to be played romantically in the largo, adagio and andante movements as well as played at a pianissimo range. The rich melody and lyric sweetness of the strings is what most people think about when they consider a violin sound. The exception would be if the violin is being played very rapidly and loudly, where it sounds more dramatic and intense. On this recording, Joshua Bell treats us with mostly gentle music, romantic music and this is why it's perfect for a romantic evening at home (candlelight dinner) or for Valentines Day as another reviewer suggested.

The album opens with a violin version of the soprano aria "O Mio Babbino Caro" from Puccini's opera, "Gianni Schicchi." It's highly suited for a violin, since a violin is a instrumental soprano. The soprano female voice and the sound of the violin seem to match perfectly in pitch and tone, while also capable of flexible shifts and leaps, remaining silvery and resonant in the lower registers and glowing at the top. This album uses other soprano arias from opera, including "Casta Diva" from Bellini's Norma. This aria is considered virtuosic, spiritually tender as well as dramatic and only a few tessitura sopranos could handle both the long flowing vocal line as well as the heavy dramatic vocal crescendo. On the violin, the aria sounds heavenly.

Debussy's "The Girl With The Flaxen Hair" sounds soulful and even melancholic, appropriately Impressionistic and subtle as Debussy was famous for. The same goes for the violin version of Gluck's "Dance Of The Blessed Spirits" from the opera "Orpheus and Eurydice." A real treat is Mozart's Piano Concerto 21 Andante. This music was featured in the romantically tragic foreign film "Elvira Madigan". The adagio was originally written for piano and string orchestra but as a a violin solo it's divinely romantic and beautiful to listen to. It's like Mozart himself would have approved of the change. Under Joshua Bell's bow, the music is extraordinary. Saint Saen's The Swan is lyric and gorgeous as well and the rest of the compilation has great tunes. So get yourself this cd, put it on and get ready to take a romantic trip with the violin.

It's demanding a lot, but if you take a leap of faith and look past the frankly dubious cover picture and title, Joshua Bell's latest offering is just as innovative and refreshing as his earlier works like The Kreisler Album and The Red Violin soundtrack.

It takes guts to pick some of the best-loved pieces of classical music and opera from the last five centuries and to arrange them for the violin, but that's exactly what Bell and producer Craig Leon have done.

Rich yet tremulous, a lush arrangement of Puccini's O Mio Babbino Caro opens the album, followed by two standards for the piano: Debussy's The Girl With The Flaxen Hair and a rendition of Chopin's Nocturne In C-Sharp Minor. The latter starts off almost baroque in feel, but when Bell's violin kicks in with its haunting and mournful refrain, it almost hurts to be confronted with such an exquisite melody.

Originally a cello piece, Saint-Saën's The Swan has been transported by the violin's brighter, higher tones into a relatively insubstantial, blink-or-you'll-miss-it flight of fancy. Schubert's Serenade is equally joyous, and in lieu of the original vocals, Bell's violin meets the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in a pleasing rendezvous.

Skipping forward several decades to the Romantic period, Songs My Mother Taught Me is appropriately dreamy and nostalgic but it isn't as good as the final track, a lilting and fluid version of Schumann's Träumerai.

Bell's 290-year-old Strad imbues each note with tantalising hints of untold depths: it sings, it screams and at times it seems to have a voice and soul of its own. Bell may merely be the 'translator', but he interprets each note from the heart and it shows.

I will preface this review by saying that I am not an expert about classical music. I love the violin and I enjoy romantic music. I know what I like.

I have Joshua Bell's Kreisler album and have enjoyed it very much for years. This new CD is absolutely one of the most beautiful collections of music I have ever heard. The sound is rich beyond belief and the melodies are very romantic. I can't stop listening to this. Bell must have played from his soul. Every single piece is a winner. The violin has a way of capturing the bittersweet essence of life and Bell has extraordinary skill.

I found the CD Romance of the Violin by Joshua Bell achingly beautiful. His expressiveness is almost overwhelming. I was impressed by the lightness of his touch which allows the violin to sing with the softest notes particularly in the higher registers. I have heard his mastery in West Side Story Suite and Gershwin but I believe it is the tone and touch in this beautiful music that reaches in to touch the soul. Being in Australia, I could not even buy this CD in the shop, but had to import it. Having heard his playing on "Mi Mancherai" on the Josh Groban CD I was determined to find his music and now that I have been introduced to this wizard I want to hear more. Enthralling interpretations of beautiful music that puts the heart at peace.

The music on this CD has to be some of the most astonishly beautiful music around. Joshua Bell's interpretations of these masterpiece works (transposed from piano or voice to violin) wonderfully bring out their timeless melodies in true Romantic depth and passion. While Mr. Bell's level of virtuosity far exceeds the technical demands of these lyrical pieces, he fully embraces the core of them with a gorgeous artistry and depth. The ironic thing about the music chosen here is that none was composed for the violin. But, as Bell cites in the notes, certain works really come alive in a new and deeper way when transposed to violin and its wide ranging "singing voice." After listening to his interpretations for violin of Mozart's famous Piano Concerto #21, the Chopin Nocture and Puccini's aria, it is hard to disagree with him - although some purists will brussle.

Even many hard-core critics who often shun such interpretations that are "overly sweet" as this one, still admit that such music is hard to surpass its sheer beauty and ability to create that perfect magical, romantic ambiance. The music here is less about virtuoso flashiness and more about an exceptional violinist drawing out the deepest, most passionate tone and emotional lyricism from these legendary compositions. The result is yes, very honey-toned, but the compositions and musicianship are equistite. The music is absolutely enchanting, alluring and lingers like a sweet fragrance for hours after ... making it perfect for a romantic interlude. A perfect CD for those newer to classical music or those who enjoy a romantic dinner with beautiful music that does not intrude but inspires with its beauty, love and passion.

The music clips do not do justice to the impeccable sound on this CD, which is created in part by Joshua Bell's newest violin - his very, very expensive "Gibson" 1713 Stadivarius (acquired around 2001 I think). The sound that Bell (and the Sony engineers) develop from this rare instrument may be the pinnacle of perfected violin sound on disc. It is mesmerizing to hear and the best recorded violin sound I have heard. The tragic yet redeeming history of this magnificent violin is quite interesting and can be read on www.joshuabell.com for those interested in such things. One of Joshua's finest efforts to date - 5 stars.

This CD is recorded on an exceptional Stradivarius violin.
The CD was made to show off the wonderful sound of this Strad. Bell had played it once, & fallen in love with it, but it was not for sale. Subsequently he was able to purchase this violin
"for $3-4 million" by "trading up" from the Strad which he already owned, which he had acquired by trading up from his
first Strad. This famous violin has exceptionally lush sound which cuts through the accompanying orchestra. It has a melodramatic history, having been stolen and recovered, then cleaned very carefully because the man who stole it -- and then played it in nightclubs -- disguised it. The varnish was not disturbed in the cleaning process and the violin emerged with its famously seductive tone intact. This CD is well worth having.
Pat McKnight.Tucson

I am very impressed with Joshua Bell's adaptation of the various pieces on this CD. It was more than what I expected. Not only was it beautiful, the music was very soothing. Joshua Bell indeed loved playing these pieces. One could hear and feel his emotions behind the music. In fact, I liked this CD so much that I have ordered 3 more CDs and gave them as gifts to my family and friends. One of my friends (a couple) both loved this CD so much that not only did they thanked me for sending it to them but they also have played it over and over again since they received the CD only a few days ago - they couldn't get enough of it. To my surprise, it even inspired them, despite their busy professional lives in New York City, to have lunch together while enjoying this CD. I guess "Romance of the Violin" did bring in a little romance back in my friends' lives.

A great violin CD to unwind to after a hectic day.

This Cd was the first Joshua Bell I ever owned, and I instantly adored the soulful music he plays. Many of these pieces are not originally written for violin, but the arranger has created a collection of vibrant virtuostic solos that any lover of music would be proud to own. I love the "O Mio Babino Caro" on the violin more than the original vocal. Then again, perhaps it is because I am a violinist and not a soprano. This is a noble addition to any music library.

I borrowed this CD from the library, and it is phenomenal! I usually don't recemmend Joshua Bell CDs that much, but this CD has absolutely gorgeous playing.

Please note that these CDs were not mean't to be played on the violin. Some were mean't for voice, otheres for piano like the Chopin piece, and many other instruments. Joshua does an excellent job of putting the feel of the music, and adding a lot of his feelings to the piece. No, the pieces are not cheesy, they are among the most beautiful pieces played on the earth. My favorite piece would be the Puccini, the first track on this CD. The melody is truly beautiful.

The orchestra also does a nice job of accompanying the soloist, led by the famous Sir Neville Mariner and the academy of Saint Martin of the fields.

If any of you just want to listen to relaxing, beautiful violin music, THIS is the CD you should all get.