Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Felix [1] Mendelssohn (Composer), Fritz Reiner (Conductor), Charles Münch (Conductor), Chamber Orchestra (Performer), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Boston Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Chamber Orchestra
• Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Fritz Reiner, Charles Münch
• Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Felix [1] Mendelssohn
• Audio CD (May 9, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003FIP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,979 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #98 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Serenades & Divertimentos > Divertimentos

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two of the greatest concertos for violin played beautifully., July 2, 2000

By 

Christopher Urrutia (Riverside, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

Not much can be said about this CD that has not already been pointed out. Heifetz if at the peak of a musicians life in that he is in his fifties. At that age his technical skills are still at their extreme peak. He also has all those valuable years of experience behind him. So having said that, these recordings are the perfect example of the perfection of Heifetz. At the end of the 3rd movement of the Tchiakovsky after the orchestra begins coda, Heifetz plays the flying ricochet double stops with the most perfect sound I have yet to hear. Everyone else sounds like they are just making it and smudge the section up. But Heifetz makes it ring so clearly. As for the Mendelssohn, the whole work from beginning to end is of complete musical perfection. Most definately the best recording of the e minor concerto to date. In agreement with the previous reviews, the sound is excellent on these recordings. Also, to maybe clarify if you are confused, the Tchaikovsky on this CD is the same recording as the on that comes coupled with the Brahms in living stereo. Buy this CD.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Tchaikovsky Ever!, June 7, 2005

By 

Donald G. Hite III "clarinetist extraordinaire!" (Houston, Tx USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

In my opinion, this is the greatest rendition of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto that I've ever heard. Heifetz plays the first movement very fast, but every note is audible and clean. There are literally moments where my jaw drops each time I listen to this recording. It would be hard to imagine a more technically and musically superb version of this wonderful concerto, although there are many other good versions (Milstein's in particular is great as well).

The Mendelssohn is great, and like all of Heifetz's work, it's pretty much perfect. While it is great, I wouldn't name this as my favorite version. Hilary Hahn's Mendelssohn is equally good and the sound quality is considerably better (because Heifetz's was recorded a long time ago), so Hahn's is my preferred Mendelssohn.

This disc is a must have. Because of the sound quality of the disc, I would not place this Mendelssohn as my top choice because they are other versions that are technically similar with better sound quality. The sound quality on this CD isn't bad (it's actually pretty good), but it's not as good as modern recordings. The Tchaikovsky is so spectacular, however, that even with better sound quality recordings out there, Heifetz still remains my top choice. Enjoy!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Biggest Loss If You Haven't Given Heifetz Sufficent Time, March 20, 2004

By 

BLee "bpslee" (HK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

To listen to Heifetz is such an intense pleasure: the intensity of his sense of beauty is unheard of in the entire recorded musicology except Dohnanyi at the piano, (Moriz Rosenthal, Rachmaninov, Cortot or Sofronitsky are very close). We don't simply call this music making for right at the same time, it's also poetry and drama in the highest form. It's the beauty of life at it's apex. Having heard Heifetz, one has no doubt that music has taken over the function of religion: it's such a consolation to one's heart and soul.

There could be no grumble or whatesoever about his Tsaichovsky, save and except the point that he adopts the Auer's revision. To say Heifetz is cold or that he played with virtuosity for vituosity's sake is the gravest mistake ( albeit that occasionally there is some justification for this when he was young), for he was so impassioned here that he could bring you to tears, along with the utmost awe, even with a single phrase and at times almost with a single strike of his bow...

Having said that, I'm not sure if Heifetz had done too great a job as what had Lizst had done in his own recital: at first it seems common or even casual, and then slowly it turns with the beauty of the second movement which keeps flashing back giving deeper meaning to the earlier part that starts to draw the audience in...

Come and listen for the beauty of it, or else you don't know what a whole world you have missed.