Vengerov and Virtuosi

Sergey Rachmaninov (Composer), Manuel Ponce (Composer), Johannes Brahms (Composer), Ottokar Novacek (Composer), Antonin Dvorak (Composer), Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Franz [Vienna] Schubert (Composer), Antonio Bazzini (Composer), Aram Khachaturian (Composer), Jules Massenet (Composer), Vittorio Monti (Composer), Vag Papian (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Vag Papian
• Composer: Sergey Rachmaninov, Manuel Ponce, Johannes Brahms, Ottokar Novacek, Antonin Dvorak, et al.
• Audio CD (August 14, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00005K3Q0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,531 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 Violinist of Infinite virtuosity, August 18, 2004

By 

MR WT MAKHATHINI "thando" (Durban, South Africa) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vengerov and Virtuosi (Audio CD)

This CD is the best encore yet another best CD by Maxim Vengerov.I listened to this at my local shop & I nearly kicked myself for being guided by one review saying that this CD is bad.I have never heard music sounding so sweet & yet so familiar with a new twist.Once Vengerov put his hands on the violin sparks really fly.He has the ability to make the violin sing on its own, extremely lyrical,expressive & very much technical in handling it. Some reviewers raised concerns of breathing which i think is not a mistake but an added humour to the songs. One must be reminded that some of these songs are based on stories of the past & if the performer incoporates that sense of humour in the performance to tell a story I think its good.Beside that its a minor thing that is not visible.With regard to the premature clapping on the long pause in the last song, well the audience obviuosly thought the song is finished like i did & Im sure most listeners thought the same in this regard & any way the clapping was due to the most beautiful picazato & bowing resulting inexpressible finish.I think the audience could not wait to say encore!encore!U listen to Motto,Bazzini, Tchaicosky which I think is the only slow but most trilling melodie, Bramhs dances are out of this world."Ave Maria by Schurbert is one of the painful beautiful songs ever written for violin.ALL tracks are the best there is. I must say though that i was not totally pleased with the choice of songs.i think the familiar songs are forever played may be the producer could have stuck with the unfamiliar works like Bazzini,Vittorio Motto, Khachaturian, Novasek,Ponce etc I like those unfamiliar composers.We have alwaysed listened to Jules massenet, Schurbert,Dvorack etc for a long time but overall this is an excellent CD with great performance by Vengerov & his crew(Virtuoso) ya! a very appropriate name. From now on I wont only depend on reviews but i think its important to listen to these beautiful works as other reviewers express it too personal in a negative way or misinterpret these encores by the most talented violinist alive today. Go on purchase it as a gift for the one you love the most.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vengerov at his best!, November 11, 2001

By 

TSENG Bruce (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vengerov and Virtuosi (Audio CD)

Vengerov is now one of the, if not the, greatest violinists in our time (I can only think of Gil Shaham who is of the same rank; others like Joshua Bell is just not comparable). His technique is well-nigh impeccable, which is fully reflected in the selected pieces here. Vengerov seemed to have mastered these demanding little pieces with ease (please listen to the La Ronde des Lutins of Bazzini). I attended his concert with Virtuosi last week (with nearly the same programme in this CD) and I can assure you that what you hear in this CD is real i.e. without editing! Vengerov has the ability to bring out the difficult parts in a piece and make it more exciting. Listening to Vengerov is a very satisfying experience. Virtuosi (which is just a small chamber-orchestra comprising only violins) also does a good job in accompanying him.

But if you think there is nothing deeper there, you cannot be more distant from the truth. The fact is, Vengerov's musicianship and interpretation are considered mature and he does have some insights for certain pieces, e.g. Schubert's Ave Maria and Rachmaninov's Vocalise. I can only complain about his occasional over-self-indulgence, say, when playing stuff like Estrellita by Ponce or Meditation by Massenet.

You would not regret spending ... on this CD, 'cos it is definitely money well spent for nearly 70 minutes of good music. If you've never listened to Vengerov, you would probably become one of his fans afterwards.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars five plus stars and then some, August 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Vengerov and Virtuosi (Audio CD)

This is a REALLY nice album. The sound is crisp and clear, with no distracting background noises. Vengerov plays with an accompanying group called Virtuosi, a sort of mini-chamber orchestra of 11 violins and a piano. The soloist and Virtuosi blend together fluidly, each complimenting the other, so that the presentation is awesome. Most of the works on this album are common, but Vengerov plays with an alternative verve and lyricism that seems to squeeze out the best possible sound and sensation of the music. Vocalise, the first piece, is wonderfully powerful and yet at the same time so achingly romantic. The faster pieces, Estrelita and the Hungarian Dances, have restrained power and varying levels of passion that is charming as well as arousing. Ave Maria is almost painful, it is so beautiful. Vengerov's style, well-demonstrated on his last album with the best Brahms I'd ever heard, is strong yet not overpowering; he is master of the violin, yet he coaxes it into joining him as his equal. Then suddenly he seems almost to be showing the violin itself just how much it can do. The pianist is quite stunning as well, and Virtuosi are poised, with all eleven violins, to join in and surround you with strings. If you love the violin, do not hesitate to purchase this album.