Witches Brew

Eugene Fodor (Artist), Kiyoshi Tomagawa (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 3, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Clarity Records
• ASIN: B000000817
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,337 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Scherzo-tarantelle, for violin & piano in G minor, Op. 16

2. Scherzo for violin & piano in C minor (third movement of 'F-A-E Sonata'), WoO posth. 2

3. Tambourin Chinois, for violin & piano, Op. 3

4. Méditation, for violin & orchestra (or other arrangement) (from opera 'Thaïs')

5. Le streghe, variations for violin & orchestra in E flat major, Op. 8, MS 19

6. Introduction and Variations on 'Dal tuo stellato soglio' from Rossini's 'Mosè', for violin & orchestra, MS 23

7. Tzigane, rhapsodie de concert, for violin & piano (or orchestra)

8. Minuet in the Style of Nicola Porpora, for violin & piano

9. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor ('La campanella'), Op. 7, MS 48: Adagio

10. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor ('La campanella'), Op. 7, MS 48: La Campanella (The Bell)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute title, different mixture, September 4, 2000

By 

Nora - See all my reviews

This review is from: Witches Brew (Audio CD)

This album, whose title implies a spooky Halloween type music is a mixture of not only wild and tempting music but some relaxing ones as well. I was first introduced to Fodor's music when he appeared in my somewhat small city for a concert. He is a very fine virtuoso and I loved that nights experience. I listened to the cd and was amazed. He has great talent and this "brew," mixture of different kinds of music is a great musical experience to anyone who loves the art of violin as well as music. He leers at you through his music and then lovingly puts his emotions into each note. Fun to listen to!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fodor's virtuosity showcased, February 23, 2004

By 

klavierspiel "klavierspiel" (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Witches Brew (Audio CD)

Eugene Fodor (1950-2011) made a name for himself as a brilliant technician of the violin. This album showcases his talents in that direction and demonstrates, despite his well-publicized (perhaps excessively so) career troubles, that his playing ability remained unimpaired throughout.

The production of this "theme" recording, with its somewhat cutesy title and artwork, is oddly uninformative and fails to reveal that some substantial music is included here: Brahms' Sonatensatz, Ravel's Tzigane and the final two movements of Paganini's Second Violin Concerto, "La Campanella," played in a heavily cut version with piano, but with the bell included in the rondo-finale (played by Fodor's then-wife). The artist plays all of these, as well as the lighter pieces, with his usual fire, panache, and impeccable accuracy, if without a great deal of interpretive variety. The violin is recorded rather prominently, pushing the competent piano accompaniment into the background, but this is no more than what is called for by most of the music.

All in all, this is an enjoyable disc for aficionados of virtuoso string playing and gives a good idea of what all the excitement was about. (Review revised to reflect Eugene Fodor's death in February 2011.)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eugene Fodor: Ave Atque Vale, March 5, 2011

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Witches Brew (Audio CD)

Eugene Fodor 1950 - 2011) died this week at age 60. In his prime during the 70s after his winning both the Paganini and the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1972 and 1974 respectively he was regarded by many critics and audiences alike as a wizard of the violin. Best known for his performances of works such as the Paganini Concerto he managed to charm the world with his casual attitude, an attitude that too soon resulted in addictions that all but ended his career.

This recording is in many ways the essence of his career. He is accompanied by pianist Kiyoshi Tomagawa in works written for violin and piano - Wieniawski, Brahms, Fritz Kreisler, and Ravel - as well as transcriptions from the orchestral repertoire - Massenet and Paganini - with the emphasis on dazzling technique. That Fodor was a wizard on his instrument was widely accepted. Unfortunately outside interruptions and bad personal choices prevented him form having the career that could have been monumental. Grady Harp, March 11