Customer Reviews

Sibelius - Violin Concerto /De Falla - Nights in the Gardens of Spain

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Vengerov is simply brilliant! The encores are quite some treat, too, esp. the Bach. As a natural benefit of a DVD, one can see a lot more in detail than in a live concert. Both the sound and image are excellent. Don't hesitate to buy it if you are a devotee of virtuosic violin playing.

I put this Vengerov Sibelius in the same class as Gould's Goldberg Variations (DVD): it is more than a performance, it is a study. I have now watched it a good 50 times, and nothing in the experience has become jaded or spoiled by this familiarity, In fact, if anything, my respect for it (the Concerto) and the performance has matured. The Bach & Ysaye encore is a bonus! As for the De Falla - is this not an odd coupling? Perhaps, a Sibelius symphony would have been more desirable (we must have continuity in our concert programs/DVDs, people). Regardless, buy this DVD - and live forever!

Sibelius was a failed virtuoso violinist. He poured his love for the violin into this concerto, which is full of difficulties beyond his own ability as a performer. It is a virtuoso concerto in the Romantic tradition, and in Vengerov it has found the ideal interpreter. Whether or not you find the visuals off-putting is a matter of personal taste (I don't mind them, while I can't stand Joshua Bell's affectations). For me what makes this an outstanding performance is Vengerov's uncanny ability to play the music like he owns it, like he means every single note in every single phrase, and thereby honoring Sibelius's idea of what a violin can do better than Sibelius himself could manage. Personal taste aside, that's *compelling*.

AND... as if that weren't enough, he throws in not one but two encores, Bach's Sarabande and Ysaye's Ballade, that he plays with just as much gusto. Difficulties melt away and the music just comes across, raw and full of power. I admit I'm biased--I think Vengerov is the most dynamic young player alive--but really, if you're a violinist or a fan of violin music, you owe it to yourself to see it and then make up your own mind.

Vengerov is such a charismatic performer and I wish he would record on DVD every time he recorded, because he is so wonderful to watch. It's so great to see a musician become so deeply absorbed in the music, and to be able to express his love for the music in his face and his body without any inhibition. He brings so much beauty out of the Sibelius concerto, and his Ysaye encore is astonishing. The music of Manuel de Falla that follows is very lush and beautiful. The Chigago Symphony orchestra sounds great and Barrenboim's piano solos are done with a very nice latin florish.

I've been a classical music fan for many years but this was my first classical DVD and I have to say that I was very impressed. The Sibelius concerto is one of my favourites and Maxim Vengerov is amazing - he has matured into an astounding artist (I think he's only 25!) But wait! there's more... The piece by Ysaye which he plays as an encore in my opinion makes this DVD worthwhile in itself. Ysaye composed some of the most challenging and stunning violin pieces and Vengerov playing this one will give you goosebumps.. :)

This is my favorite dvd violin concerto..the filming is clear, the sound magnificent ! Maxim Vengerov is an exciting young performer who is absolutely at ease playing the Concerto . The music flows through him spectacularly and he expresses the adagio beautifully on his 1723 stradivarious...! This is fine art captured on dvd folks...

Life is good...

Michael

This is SUPERB violin playing from all aspects. If you were to own only one recording of a violinist in any format (CD, Laser Disc, VCR, DVD), this would be the one. I have been a violin teacher for more than forty years.

I am absolutely stupified by this stunning performance. Beautiful and as emotionally involving as any performance I have ever heard. I really don't know if there is a more meaningful or important recording. Vengerov's is both a technical and musical genius without equal. No one compares!

The sound of his instrument and the depth of feeling he draws from it is, likewise, the best I have ever heard. Again, no one compares!

A Bravo for Mr. Vengerov, if you are looking for a violinist with expression, please buy the DVD and hear the Ysaye Sonata, at final you exclaim "Bravo" with the audience. The Sibelius Concerto one of my favorites is very well performed, very clear and expressive.
Mr Daniel Barenboim's and Placido Domingo performance, without works, magnific.

Incredible performance. Great video. Great audio. Except for Vengerov's ugly coat this DVD is perfect. Check out his encore of Ysaye's third violin sonata. It really brought the house down. You can see his musical evolution here compared with his other DVD performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto done 7 years earlier. Also interesting to see Placido Domingo filling in as conductor while Daniel Barenboim performs the DaFalla piano concerto.