Plays Fritz Kreisler

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Born in Russia, Zino Vinnikov studied the violin privately with Professor Abram Shtern in Kiev, and later at the Leningrad Conservatoire with Professors Mikhail Waiman and Benjamin Scher, himself a pupil of the legendary Leopold Auer. While still a student, he won the First Prize at the USSR National Violin Competition and went on to shine at the most prestigious and demanding international competitions. He was one of the prizewinners of the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the Concours Reine Élisabeth in Brussels, as well as winner of the First Prize and Gold Medal at the George Enescu Competition in Bucharest. Immediately after completing his postgraduate studies, Vinnikov was invited to become a Professor at the Leningrad Conservatoire. In the early years of his career, Zino Vinnikov appeared in solo recitals and concerto performances on stages throughout the former Soviet Union. In 1979 the Soviet authorities permitted Vinnikov and his family to emigrate to the West. They accepted an invitation to settle in The Netherlands, where Vinnikov is still based.

Today Zino Vinnikov is an acclaimed international artist with broad musical interests and an exceptionally rich repertoire. Audiences and critics worldwide have been moved by his profound interpretations, dazzling technical skill and astonishingly unique sound, which Yehudi Menuhin described as 'coming straight from heaven'. He has performed with orchestras of the calibre of The St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as with numerous chamber orchestras of renown. Conductors he has worked with include Yehudi Menuhin, Kyrill Kondrashin, Evgeny Svetlanov, Yuri Temirkanov, Mariss Jansons, Neeme Järvi, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Valery Gergiev, Hans Vonk, Aldo Ceccato and Alain Lombard. Zino Vinnikov has appeared in most European countries as well as in those of the Former Soviet Union, the United States, Canada, Latin America, China and Japan.

Equally a keen chamber musician, Zino Vinnikov has performed with musicians such as Mischa Maisky, Boris Pergamenschikow, Natalia Gutman, Elisso Versoladze, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Ronald Brautigam and many others, appearing at numerous festivals including those of Edinburgh, Bahnhof Rolandseck, St Petersburg 'White Nights', Camerino, Santander and Bordeaux.

Committed to the transmission of his art, Zino Vinnikov has held Professorships in Russia, France and The Netherlands, and has conducted masterclasses in the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Finland and France. He currently also teaches a select group of highly talented private students. Zino Vinnikov plays a magnificent Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin stemming from the master's golden Torino-period, courtesy of an anonymous benefactor.

In addition to numerous television and radio broadcasts, Vinnikov's select discography includes several solo-recordings on the Soviet Melodiya label and a recording of Dvorák's Violin Concerto with the Residentie Orchestra The Hague. Zino Vinnikov's 1995 recording of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, Sérénade mélancolique and Mélodie with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yehudi Menuhin (Tring International) received world-wide acclaim.

Tracks:

Liebesfreud
Liebesleid
Tambourin chinois, Op.3
Caprice viennois, Op.2
Chanson Louis XIII And Pavane
Variations On A Theme Of Corelli
Rondino On A Theme By Beethoven
Schon Rosmarin
The Old Refrain - Wiener Volkslied - Le vieux refrain
Andantino
Berceuse romantique, Op.9
Aubade provencale (In The Style Of Couperin)
Apple Blossoms: Who Can Tell?
Toy Soldiers' March
Aucassin And Nicolette (Medieval Canzonetta)
Shepherd's Madrigal - Altdeutsches Schafermadrigal - Madrigal du berger
Gypsy Caprice - Zigeuner Capriccio
Polichinelle
La precieuse (In The Style Of Couperin)
La gitana
Marche miniature viennoise
The King Steps Out: Stars In My Eyes
Viennese Rhapsodic Fantasietta

Customer Reviews:

poor recording.......2007-04-30

Besides the bacground hiss, I found I had to turn the volume up to max just to hear it. So when you play more than one CD the others will be normal volume but when Kreisler starts you hear nothing and have to turn the volume all the way up to have it at low normal levels. So I recommend passing on this one.

Travel to the Old Vienna.......2006-01-26

Sometimes the author isn`t the best performer of his own works. That`s not the case. I completely agree with the previous reviewer: yes, only Kreisler can play Kreisler.
While listening to this music you so wounderfully feel the spirit of the old Vienna, that most technically perfect record couldn`t compare with this impressions. Treat surface noise of the records made in 1912-1946 as the scent of that distant time (by the way, nearly the age gone) - and you would be completely satisfied, because the playing by Kreisler is so scincere and soulful. So if you like Kreisler - don`t think twice. This is CD for you.

Only Kreisler Can Play Kreisler *****.......2005-05-08

What can I say? Only Kreisler can play Kreisler. Get a discography of Fritz Kreisler and start hunting down everything you can find by this man. You can compare violinists; Heifetz has astounding technique, Milstein's always wonderful, Oistrakh is a favorite of many, Kogan can play anything, etc., etc., etc.. But Kreisler... is a unique personality of the violin. Yehudi Menuhin said of him in his autobiography, there are many great violinists with perhaps greater technique in this area or that; but "Kreisler mystifies me." Bruno Walter, the great conductor, said of Kreisler, "He did not play the violin; he BECAME the violin." and this is true. There is something special about Kreisler that transcends violin playing itself. Something heavenly is communicated by him with his instrument. Transfers from old disks are always of varying quality. Kreisler lived a long time ago and recording techniques were very primitive; but Kreisler even seems to rise above the pops and the clicks. Other artists are drowned out by them but Kreisler soars above them and makes one forget they are there. You're focused on the beauty and the background noise seems to disappear entirely. Other violinists have tried
to play Kreisler and perhaps get the notes right, most notably among them, Zino Francescatti (who plays Kreisler better than any other man except Kreisler), but only Kreisler can play Kreisler.
If you want to hear it best, put up with the background hiss. It's worth it. If you want a modern recording, see if you can find Francescatti's tribute album to Fritz Kreisler. it's OOP, but an LP in mint condition sometimes appears on an online auction service. Why the Francescatti album ever went OOP I do not know. He is the only modern violinist that ever really tapped into the soul of 'Fritz' when he plays Kreisler. If the disk is ever again released, snap it up before it goes OOP again. In the final analysis, modern violinists, at most, will give you a representative selection of only about 16 tracks and usually you get the worn chestnuts over and over again. Enough of Kreislers own recordings are still available that you can still get the whole gamut of his discography if you just look. Do so!

Perfection.......2004-03-08

No crap...really? OF COURSE THIS RECORDING IS A TRANSFER! YOU THINK THEY HAVE DIGITAL RECORDING TECHNOLOGY BACK THEN???? Man, that review from Delaware annoys me.

Go with the first review. This recording is a must. It is one of the great violin recordings. Even my old violin teacher advise me to play some of Kreisler stuff to improve techniques. Kreisler is a legend. Lesson and appreciate the beauties of the violin.

disappointing technical quality.......2000-08-29

I realize that this cd was a transfer, but I have other music that was transferred from old recordings, and they sound much better than this. The disappointing technical quality of the sound on this CD disturbs me. In fact, it sounds worse than the vinyl I already own. Very loud hissing, some popping. The music doesn't actually sound like it's been recorded in a tunnel, but the sound is not as full as I had hoped.

Tracks:

A May Breeze
Romance, Op.94
La Precieuse In The Style Of Couperin
Ser Espagnole, Op.20 No.2
The Old Refrain
Der Opernball: Midnight Bells
Chanson & Pavane In The Style Of Couperin
Ballet in G
Larghetto
Caprice Viennois
Chinois, Op.3
Gavotte
Rondo
Rondino On A Theme By Beethoven
Mazurka, No.4 Op.67
Poupee Valsante
Humoresque, Op.101 No.7
Andante Cantabile
Hymn To The Sun
Chanson Hindoue

Tracks:

Londonderry Air - Franz Rupp
Lotus Land, Op.47 No.1 - Franz Rupp
Jota No.4 - Franz Rupp
Danza Espanola - Franz Rupp
Schon Rosmarin - Franz Rupp
La Gitana - Franz Rupp
Liebesleid - Franz Rupp
Liebesfreud - Franz Rupp
Scherzo Alla Dittersdorf - Kreisler Str Qt
Str Qt in a - Kreisler Str Qt
Str Qt in a - Kreisler Str Qt
Str Qt in a - Kreisler Str Qt
Str Qt in a - Kreisler Str Qt
Son: Adagio - Fritz Kreisler
Chansons Sans Paroles - Fritz Kreisler
Ste No.3: Air - Fritz Kreisler
Aubade Provencale In The Style Of Couperin - Fritz Kreisler

Customer Reviews:

Kreisler plays Kreisler.......2007-06-02

I purchased three different CD's of Kreisler Music for my sister. We both love it and would recommand all his music. The are very beautiful.

Bronislaw Gimpel Plays Bruch, Kreisler, Dvorak And Goldmark

Average customer rating:

The playing drags
a phenomenal performance

Bronislaw Gimpel Plays Bruch, Kreisler, Dvorak And Goldmark

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

The Art of Ivry Gitlis

ASIN: B000001KCJ
Release Date: 1996-05-21

Tracks:

Vn Con No.1 in g, Op.26: I. Prld: Allegro Moderato
Vn Con No.1 in g, Op.26: II. Adagio
Vn Con No.1 in g, Op.26: III. Finale: Allegro Energico
Tartini: Fugue in A
La Gitana
Three Old Viennese Dance Melodies: I. Liebesfreud
Three Old Viennese Dance Melodies: II. Liebesleid
Three Old Viennese Dance Melodies: III. Schon Rosmarin
Polichinelle-Ser
Scheherazade: Arab Song
Prld And Allegro (In The Style Of Gaetano Pugnani)
La Precieuse (In The Style Of Louis Couperin)
Caprice Viennois
Tambourin Chinois
Marguerite (Albumblatt)
Danse Espagnole

Tracks:

Vn Con in a, Op.53: I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Vn Con in a, Op.53: II. Quasi Moderato, Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Vn Con in a, Op.53: III. Finale: Allegro Giocoso, Ma Non Troppo
Vn Con in a, Op.28: I. Allegro Moderato
Vn Con in a, Op.28: II. Andante
Vn Con in a, Op.28: III. Moderato

Customer Reviews:

The playing drags.......2005-12-04

Although Bronislaw Gimple played these pieces with beautiful clarity of tone, his playing lacked spark and often dragged. His pace and rhythm were far too slow and dull to capture the most out of these pieces. If you want to hear a richer and far better treatment of the Goldmark concerto (a very underrated work in my opinion and one that certainly deserves wider exposure), as well as livelier interpretations of Kreisler, I recommend Itzhak Perlman's recordings of these pieces. They are well paced and snappy without being played too fast and truly bring out the best in Kreisler and Goldmark.

a phenomenal performance.......2002-03-23

This is probably the best performances of all of these pieces played here. It is obvious Gimpel had a technique to match that of Heifetz, the seriousness of Oistrakh, the elegance and charm of Kreisler, The experimental qualities of Milstein, and added to all that, a sound closer to the human voice than that of any other violinist. It is very disappointing to see that this is the only cd of Bronislaw Gimpel available, although there are many other recordings of his. From this we can see he was equal if not better than any other violinist in his time. He received inadequate attention and got much less than deserved, but here's a tribute to one of the greatest violinists of all time.

William Primrose Plays Brahms, Benjamin, Harris, Kreisler

Average customer rating:

William Primrose Plays Brahms, Benjamin, Harris, Kreisler

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000WRM
Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

Sonata No.1 In F Minor Op.120, No.1: Allegro apasssionato - Sostenuto ed espressivo
Sonata No.1 In F Minor Op.120, No.1: Andante un poco adagio
Sonata No.1 In F Minor Op.120, No.1: Allegretto grazioso
Sonata No.1 In F Minor Op.120, No.1: Vivace
Sosanta No.2 In E Flat Major, Op.120, No.2: Allegro amabile
Sosanta No.2 In E Flat Major, Op.120, No.2: Allegro apassionato - Sostenuto - Tempo primo
Sosanta No.2 In E Flat Major, Op.120, No.2: Andante con moto - Allegro - Piu tranquillo
Elegy, Waltz And Toccata: Elegy
Elegy, Waltz And Toccata: Waltz
Elegy, Waltz And Toccata: Toccata
Soliloquy and Dance: Soliloquy
Soliloquy and Dance: Dance
Praeludium and Allegro In The Style Of Pugnani

Average customer rating:

Fritz Kreisler Plays Encores

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Fritz Kreisler Plays Kreisler
Bach: Sonatas & Partitas

ASIN: B000000WT9
Release Date: 1992-12-23

Tracks:

A May Breeze
Humoresque
Songs My Mother Taught Me
Thais: Mediatation
L' Arlesienne: Intermezzo
Scherzo
Liebesfreud
Liebesleid
Rondino On A Theme (By Beethoven)
Caprice Viennois
Tambourin Chinois
Frasquita: Ser
Giudetta: Ser
Wienerisch
La Vida Breve: Danse Espagnole
En Bateau
Slavonic Dance No.3 in G
Indian Lament
Tango, Op.165/2
Malaguena

Average customer rating:

5 Stars even for Want of the Viennese Flavour
Get Mercury Living Presence Before Its Dead

Plays Kreisler
Henryk Szeryng , and Fritz Kreisler
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Bach: Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin
The Kreisler Album
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5 / Midsummer Night's Dream
Dorati Conducts Satie, Milhaud, Auric, Françaix & Fetler
Janos Starker

ASIN: B0000057MN
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

Caprice Viennois
Schon Rosmarin
Liebesleid
Liebesfreud
Recitativo and Scherzo (Solo Violin)
Tempo di Minuetto
Praeludium and Allegro
Chanson Louis XIII and Pavane
Tambourin Chinois
Menuet
The Old Refrain
Rondino (on a theme by Beethoven)
Allegretto (in the style of Boccherini)
Sonata No.3 in D major: Un poco andante
Sonata No.3 in D major: Allegro
Sonata No.3 in D major: Sarabande (Largo)
Sonata No.3 in D major: Tanbourin (Presto)
Melodie
The Labyrinth

Customer Reviews:

5 Stars even for Want of the Viennese Flavour.......2004-01-21

The recorded sound is not bad at all...in fact, quite good-- though not as good as the average modern recording, nor quite as good as Syeryng/Hablaer's Mozart Sonatas, but it's very close.

What this record interests me is the way how a Maestro of the Carl Flesch tradition ( albeit he also learned from the French violinist Thibaud and Enescu ) of Polish origin would interprete such Viennese music. To some audience, the Viennese glamour and elegance, or the Kreisler sort of assurance isn't quite there: somewhat like when Furtwangler conducted the Waltz, it was not quite the same thing as Strauss himself conducting, however great Furtwangler was. To some audience, other than Kreisler himself, perhaps Morini got it better, however superb or gracefully Szeryng played these pieces. But, if one is to choose between Oistrakh or Szeryng as far as these pieces are concerned, I definitely prefer the latter!

In mitigation, we have the fullest support possible from Reiner, although he stayed very much in the background, so much so that these pieces are full of life and music as though these small pieces are miniature symphonies. Believe it or not, great conductors are naturally great accompanists of the top notch...

Furthermore, we have some other pieces which are not Kreisler music, like Leclair and Gluck or even Locatelli, any one of these jems is worth the ticket itself!

If you are looking for an alternative for Kreisler, by all means check this out.

Get Mercury Living Presence Before Its Dead.......2003-07-17

When I first started collecting classical CDs, I only had a few Mercury Living Presence (MLP) titles. In my quest to get the absolute best, or at least a definitive recording, of the major works of the standard repertoire, MLP discs rarely topped the critics' lists. In fact, only three MLP recordings have been earmarked as "Essential Recordings" by amazon -- Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, Byron Janis performing Rachmaninov's 2nd & 3rd Piano Concertos, and Yehudi Menuhin performing Bartok's 2nd Violin Concerto, all three with Antal Dorati as conductor. It is also safe to say that three other titles are equally essential for their historical value alone. They are Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake by Dorati (the first recording of the complete ballet), Janis performing Liszt's Piano Concertos (the first recordings made in the Soviet Union by American technicians, musical staff and equipment), and Kubelik's Chicago Symphony performance of Pictures at an Exhibition (one of, if not the single best mono recording ever, and the one that led the New York Times critic to coin the phrase "Living Presence," from which the label named its series). But how does a CD line go from having a half-dozen must have recordings, to being this reviewer's all-time favorite classical label?

Tracks:

Caprice Basque, Op.24
Danzas Espanolas, No.1, Op.21: No.1 Malaguena - Yehudi Menuhin/Hendrik Endt
Danzas Espanolas, No.2, Op.21: No.2 Habanera
Danzas Espanolas, No.3, Op.22: No.1 Romanza Andaluza
Danzas Espanolas, No.6, Op.23: No.2 Zapateado
La Ronde Des Lutins: Scherzo Fantastique, Op.25
Caprice Viennois, Op.2
Tambourin Chinois, Op.3
Schon Rosmarin
Praeludium & Allegro In The Style Of Pugnani
'La Chasse' In The Style Of Cartier
Sicilienne & Rigaudon In The Style Of Francoeur - Yehudi Menuhin/Artur Balsam
Recitative & Scherzo-Caprice, Op.6 (Unaccompanied) - Yehudi Menuhin
12 Danzas Espanolas, Op.37, No.5: Andaluza (Playera) - Yehudi Menuhin/Ferguson Webster
Perpetuum Mobile (Con Caprice, Op.5, No.4) - Yehudi Menuhin/Hubert Gieson
Hora Staccato - Yehudi Menuhin/Hendrik Endt
'Abodah' (God's Worship) - Yehudi Menuhin/Hendrik Endt
Souvenir De Moscou, Op.6 (Vars On Two Russian Folksongs)
Guitarre, Op.45, No.2 - Yehudi Menuhin/Artur Balsam
The Tsar's Bride: The Song Of The Bride - Yehudi Menuhin/Hubert Gieson
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: The Flight Of The Bumble-bee - Yehudi Menuhin/Artur Balsam

Customer Reviews:

dazzling playing.......2003-07-06

this cd gives a very well impression about the incredible facility of Menuhin's technique in his youth. Not yet hampered with his bow arm problems that he had in his career since the forty's, one is aware of a natural talent who could perform this pieces without any difficulty. Although coordination and intonation are not always of a Heifetz-like perfection, it is incredibly exciting. The oldest records on this cd were made when he was just 11 years old, and it is interesting to hear what happened in the years after. For example: his playing at the age of 18/19 is much much more powerful than the first records he made, his vibrato is always very much faster, (it was sometimes quite slow when he was 11,) altough he developed a slight tendency to force a litte bit with his tone production. But the overall picture is that of playing of a huge huge talent, which'll seldom be equalled

Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff: Solo Works and Transcriptions

Average customer rating:

three rooms away sound

Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff: Solo Works and Transcriptions

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mendelssohn: Piano Trios Op. 49 & Op. 66

ASIN: B00000E6ET
Release Date: 1989-10-19

Customer Reviews:

three rooms away sound.......2005-06-10

sharing lunch with my mother, the CD is playing three rooms away on my computer.
her commentaires lays on "how precise is the sound from that CD" side of things... i smile and i explain her that actually the CD is a remastering of an old analogic recording, so the sound quality has no reason to be brilliant (though excellent considering when it has been recorded).... moreover, my computer loudpseakers are really bad quality, so that adds up... she looks a bit embarassed and i try to find a way out for her and for me too, because actually what i'm listening is really something great.
so that's it... it's Rachmaninoff himself playing... if you know what you're doing and meaning, it will go through no matter what.

always ask for people who know what they're doing deep inside themselves... colors are different, and things just flow.
i recall reading Physics books from Landau, Von Neumann, Heisenberg.... compared to the mushy physics explained on most reference textbooks, "their" Physics is really tackling things on the core side.

enjoy this recording

Average customer rating:

Great playing with some beautiful moments.
Very good for someone his age
does the soul matter?
Wicked Wicked Cool

Sasha Plays Romantic Russian Rarities
Henryk Wieniawski , Sergei Prokofiev , and Sergei Rachmaninov
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005NW0E
Release Date: 2001-09-11

Tracks:

Wienawski: Souvenir De Moscow, Op. 6
Prokofiev: Cinderella: Waltz
Prokofiev: Cinderella: Gavotte
Prokofiev: Cinderella: Passe Pied
Prokofiev: Cinderella: Winter Fairy
Prokofiev: Cinderella: Mazurka
Rachmaninov: Daisies
Tchaikovsky: Song Without Words, Op. 2 No. 3
Rachmaninov: Hungarian Dance, Op. 6 No. 2
Gliere: Romance, Op. 3
Glinka: Mazurka
Rachmaninov: Romance, Op. 6 No. 1
Zimbalist: Fantasy On A Theme From Le Coq D'or

Amazon.com

Musical talent often runs in families--Bach's and Mozart's come readily to mind. Alexander Sitkovetsky represents the youngest of three generations of famous Russian musicians, including a violinist grandfather and uncle, and a pianist grandmother and mother. Indeed, his mother performs with him on this, his debut recording. Sitkovetsky started playing violin at the age of 6 and he was performing two years later. Yehudi Menuhin, impressed by his talent, invited him to study at his school and took him under his wing. He has embarked on a flourishing career as a teenager.

He is indeed a most successful young violinist, with the technique and flair of a virtuoso, but also the lyrical soul of a poet. The program on this disc is well-suited to his years, but it's of very uneven musical quality, featuring mainly encore pieces. Some are too long, some are cheap and corny, most are often dubious transcriptions--they are showpieces that display Sitkovetsky's brilliant technique. The most remarkable aspect of his playing, however, is that he approaches the music with total seriousness, without a hint of sentimentality or condescension; he even slides with restraint and discretion. His tone is austere, pure, never sweet or throbbing, and he can vary it instantly to fit mood and character. Thus, he succeeds in concealing the banality and bringing out the charm and expressive lyricism of these musical trifles. Prokofiev's Five Pieces from the ballet Cinderella are most engaging; Zimbalist's Fantasy on a theme by Rimsky-Korsakov, an empty bravura piece, is least satisfying. No matter--the playing's the thing. It will be very interesting to see what this arresting, appealing player does with more substantial repertoire. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Great playing with some beautiful moments........2006-03-05

I strongly agree with the review by sergey written previously. There are particular tracks which are wonderful including the Zimbalist and many movements from the Cinderella Suite.He has some quality tone production which is a rarity in itself these days. Yes, absolutely, the pianists playing is wooden and I heard both players in concert a year ago and have since found that it is his mother in fact. Sasha's playing was very good with much energy/vigour and coloring but it was a shame he uses the same pianist as she was either again quite boring or at times just un-poised and just painfully amateur. Perhaps he needs to move on from playing with his rehearsal pianist if he wants to devlop into a greater character.
He is a young talent with much to offer. Keep a look out!

Very good for someone his age.......2004-04-27

There are some good qualities in this guys playing though at times works sounded 'fake' as if he were playing things because he was told to do so and therefore occasionally did not sound natural. Perhaps at such a young age this is not always possible.
The piano player whom I think is some relation to him was disappointing. In fact, many highly established musicians and colleague's of mine after listening to it have commented on this pianist saying it has ruined the overall CD by its colorless, dull and lifeless playing with an obvious lack of musicianship like a digital machine. I do however think this violinist will mature into something bright. Let's hope he doesn't use that piano player...

does the soul matter?.......2003-01-13

This CD was given to me as a sort of joke/gift by a friend because I had found the picture on the cover to be really cute and had commented that I'd almost buy it for the picture. Well, for christmas, my friend bought it for me!

In essence, I find his playing to be unhumanly accurate and clean. However, after two listenings, I come away with no memory of, or attraction to his violinistic soul. He sounds utterly over-trained. I cannot pick out anything 'wrong' with his playing....the tempos are good, intonation is insanely accurate, there isn't anything unmusical. But it is so plain and without passion. Where are the operatic glissandi? Where is the violins ability to display an unmatchable variety of colors, vibratos, rubato? I only feel more respect towards the violin culture of past days (think Kreisler, Elman, young Menuhin, Seidl) where intensity of your personality and your interpretation mattered most and the violin was trying to emulate the most exquisite human operatic voice. Now the violin culture seems intent on emulating the most accurate digital note producing equipment.

IN fact, I think I'd almost get the same effect of this recording if it were recorded with digital equipment and not an acoustic violin.

But, to end on a good note....bravo for his incredible technical achievements.

..................

Wicked Wicked Cool.......2002-01-26

This album is one of the best that I have bought in a while. It is sooooooooooo good. He is so amazing and if you don't have this album yet, what are you waiting for??? Go get it! You will love it!