Customer Reviews

Violin Concertos 1 8 & 9

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

 

 

Charles Auguste de Bériot was one of a group of important nineteenth-century violin virtuosi who also composed for their instrument, but while the concertos of Paganini have become a benchmark for technical accomplishment, and Wieniawski and Vieuxtemps maintain a somewhat insecure place in the standard symphonic repertory with one violin concerto apiece, the Belgian master has been relegated to the status of a good composer of literature for aspiring violin students. This is a pity because, based on the evidence of this CD, Bériot's concertos have considerable melodic charm interspersed with fluent writing for the violin. There are frequent echoes of Italian opera in the melodies, not surprising since the composer was married to the renowned singer Maria Malibran and undoubtedly was well acquainted with the operatic scene of the time.

In two out of the three concertos, the composer tends toward compression. The "Military" work on this album consists of one twelve-minute movement, while the more familiar No. 9, which has gained some currency as a student concerto, consists of three short interconnected movements, allowing the composer to sidestep the problem of developing his ideas. Concerto No. 8 is decidely more ambitious in scope, with some interesting formal innovations: the opening orchestral tutti begins with what turns out to be the "second theme" of the subsequent sonata movement, and the harmony and orchestration throughout are more colorful than in the other two concertos.

All three works get solid performances from soloist and orchestra on this CD; however, to bring out the full measure of Bériot's particular appeal a violinist with a lighter touch and more rhythmic flexibility would have been preferable to Takako Nishizaki, who exhibits flawless technique and lustrous tone, but whose approach to this music tends toward the rigid and over-vehement. The short duration of the CD is also a drawback, though less so at this price. The bottom line is that this disc makes available some good violin music that ought to be heard more frequently.

The point of this reviewer's statement is to emphatically applaud the performance to T Nishizaki on these concerti. He (she?, I really don't know) absolutely swings & rocks with vigor and finess - deftly transitioning from moments of almost cloying sweetness to a downright foot-stomp'n bravura when the music calls for such. I only hold off the fifth star as I could conceive of a slightly richer overall recorded soundstage, but, the soloist is pedal-to-the-metal to my estimation.

I play the violin, so listening to the stuff that I actually play was very helpful!!! =D

I hadn't heard of Beriot before, but after hearing the Concerto No. 8, I bought this CD. To be honest, the "Military" Concerto No. 1 doesn't trip my trigger, but the other two are well worth the admission price!