Isaac Stern (1945-46)

On this CD:

1. Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22
Composed by Henryk Wieniawski
Performed by New York Philharmonic with Isaac Stern
Conducted by Efrem Kurtz

2. Zigeunerweisen, for violin & piano (or orchestra) ("Gypsy Airs"), Op. 20
Composed by Pablo de Sarasate
Performed by Isaac Stern
Conducted by Franz Waxman

3. Carmen Fantasy for violin & orchestra
Composed by Franz Waxman
Performed by Isaac Stern
Conducted by Franz Waxman

4. The Tale of Tsar Saltan (Skazka o Tsare Saltane), opera in 4 acts with a prologue
Composed by Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov
Performed by Isaac Stern
Conducted by Franz Waxman

5. Tristan und Isolde, opera, WWV 90
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Oscar Levant, Isaac Stern
Conducted by Franz Waxman

6. Sonata for violin & piano No. 7 in C minor ("Eroica") Op. 30/2
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Isaac Stern, Alexander Zakin
Conducted by Franz Waxman

Tracks:

Sakura, Sakura
Chin-Chin-Chidori
Yamanakabushi
Toryanse (Children's Song)
Chidori No Kyoku
Defune
Oharabushi
Shimabara No Komoriuta
Imayoh
Imayo
Chugoko-Chino-No-Komoriuta
Jogashima No Ame
Haru No Umi
Sakura, Sakura

Customer Reviews:

Perfect background.......2007-04-02

Not only does the music appeal to dinner, but just sitting and reading or doing a crossword puzzle it allows your mind to relax, just enjoy! All the tracks are pleasant.

Super-relaxing.......2007-03-05

A very good introduction to koto music and a lot less cheesy than the concept would suggest. The first track is by far the best.

One of the Best Japanese Music Album's I've found.......2006-11-04

Beautiful selection of Japanese music. Very calming and soothing music. Mainly slow, but does include some quicker pieces of music. Great variety of instruments used such as flute, violin and harpsichord. CD also includes recipe for a Japanese dinner. Great background music for a dinner party. If you like the Soundtrack to Memoirs of a Geisha, you'll enjoy this.

Softener for the ears..........2006-08-26

I am not satisfied with this version of traditional Japanese music at all. In my opinion traditional Japanese music is much more impressive and intense when played on original Japanese instruments. The best example is "Sakura, sakura", one of the most famous Japanese songs. When it is played on Koto and Shakuhachi (Japanese flute) instead of transverse flute it has a different feel and much better quality of expression.

The whole CD is like a softener for an audience which might not be used to a non western sound. At the same time it will get a wrong idea about what Japanese music is and will miss its real quality.

Beautiful and Relaxing!.......2005-07-29

A gentle sample of fine, traditional Japanese music at its best. Highly recommended for the novice - "1st timer" - as well as those of more cultured taste. Hauntingly beautiful.

Mendelssohn: Piano Trios Op. 49 & Op. 66

Average customer rating:

The best performance of these trios.
The Best!
Beautiful Mendelssohn!
Near perfect
Chamber music at its finest

Mendelssohn: Piano Trios Op. 49 & Op. 66

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002A8S
Release Date: 1995-12-05

Tracks:

Trio For Piano, Violin And Violoncello No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 49: I. Molto allegro ed agitato
Trio For Piano, Violin And Violoncello No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 49: II. Andante con moto tranquillo
Trio For Piano, Violin And Violoncello No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 49: III. Scherzo. Leggiero e vivace
Trio For Piano, Violin And Violoncello No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 49: IV. Finale. Allegro assai appassionato
Trio For Piano, Violin And Violoncello No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 66: I. Allegro energico e con fuoco
Trio For Piano, Violin And Violoncello No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 66: II. Andante espressivo
Trio For Piano, Violin And Violoncello No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 66: III. Scherzo. Molto allegro - quasi presto
Trio For Piano, Violin And Violoncello No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 66: IV. Finale. Allegro appassionato

Customer Reviews:

The best performance of these trios........2007-06-02

This is the best performance rendered to these trios.

The Best!.......2007-05-14

Mendelssohn wrote several works that can safely be called "Masterpieces." His piano trios are most certainly amongst them. Add to that the famed Stern, Istomen and Rose trio, with their bouncy, passionate and absolutely precise rendering of these classics and you have the definitive recording of the Mendelssohn trios. Period.

Beautiful Mendelssohn!.......2005-12-16

Chamber Music seems so right during the boisterous mechanics of the holidays and one sure respite from the garish noise of the external season can be found in works like the Mendelssohn Piano Trios.

Here Eugene Istomin, Leonard Rose, Isaac Stern perform Piano Trios 1 and 2 in a manner that bespeaks camaraderie of the performers as well as a complete respect for these luminous works. Some have called these works piano sonatas with obbligato and while for this listener that is an unfair judgment, Eugene Istomin plays the piano part with enough flair and thoughtful propulsion that he does at times sound the more important. But that is Mendelssohn's writing and not a self-aggrandizement of a pianist.

The overall sound is simply superb. These two trios are some of the loveliest ever written from that era and the gentlemen performing them offer sophisticated and informed interpretations. The recording is excellent, the music is rarefied! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 05

Near perfect.......2005-03-06

The Mendelssohn trios are some of the most beautiful music ever written. While I thoroughly enjoyed this recording and would highly reccomend buying it (at a bargain price here), i do have one small problem with it. Stern and Rose accompany each other quite well and while Stern here is at his usual, fiery and passionate, i feel that the pianist, Istomin, failed to match the fire that his accompanists create. Mendelssohn is said to have called his piano trios, "piano sonatas with accompaniment", as Mozarts works; which puts more emphasis on the piano part. And unfortunately here, there are more passages in whcih Istomin fails to live up to that than there should be. But where he fails, Stern makes up for, and that is why this recording is worth it.

Chamber music at its finest.......2004-11-29

I purchased this CD with the intent of finding fine players playing fine music. What I found, however, was and outstanding example of chamber music as its finest. The ensemble these 3 players generate is some of the finest ensemble music playing recorded. Each player displays exceptional technique, both in the mechanical and lyrical aspects of their playing. Most impressive is listening to Istomen who, playing a very technically and lyrically demanding part, voices his playing with such finess and carefull attention to detail to the strings; a feat very difficult to do as a pianist. This is an excellent recording for the professional to study a score from or for the avid listener to play over and over.

Beethoven: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra

Average customer rating:

Isaac is Great, but
Excellent Performance
Superb Stern, Brilliant Bernstein

Beethoven: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2

ASIN: B0000025M6
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Major, Op. 61: I - Allegro ma non troppo
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Major, Op. 61: II - Larghetto; III - Rondo : Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Isaac is Great, but.......2005-03-27

Isaac Stern is one of my all time favorite violin virtuosos, but Fritz Kreisler owns the Beethoven Violin Concerto. Despite
the quality of the 1936 recording, the performance is still the most dynamic ever. If you want a more modern recording with less background noise I would recommend Nathan Milstein's or Zino Francescatti's (with Kreisler's cadenzas played stunningly). The eccentric Bronislaw Hubermann made a very good recording in 1935, but you'd have a hard time finding it.

Excellent Performance.......2004-12-30

This one is the best peformance of the Beethoven violin concerto I have listened to, and I have listened to many. I own 4 of them, all played by well known violinists.
Stern is playing emotionally, yet with srong performance where needed. The NY Philharmonic sounds great with Bernstein.
Highly recommended!

Superb Stern, Brilliant Bernstein.......2000-07-25

The duo Bernstein/Stern produced here one of the most intense recordings of the Beethoven Violin Concerto. There is an undescriptible feeling of warmth and joy in this recording. The performance is excellent and much better than the Karajan/Ferras or the Nigel Kennedy recordings (despite the slight bakground noise, perhaps due to the analogic source). I only gave it four stars because of this slight noise (mostly audible when listening to the recording with headphones)

Average customer rating:

Experience and energy
An interesting "Four Seasons"...
There are better 4 Seasons out there!
Definitive and Sublime
You've Tried The Rest, Now Try The Best

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 1-4; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

ASIN: B000001G7I
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Concerto In E Major - Spring: Allegro
Concerto In E Major - Spring: Largo
Concerto In E Major - Spring: Allegro
Concerto In G Minor - Summer: Allegro Non Molto - Allegro
Concerto In G Minor - Summer: Adagio
Concerto In G Minor - Summer: Presto
Concerto In F Major - Autumn: Allegro
Concerto In F Major - Autumn: Adagio Molto
Concerto In F Major - Autumn: Allegro
Concerto In F Minor - Winter: Allegro Non Molto
Concerto In F Minor - Winter: Largo
Concerto In F Minor - Winter: Allegro

Amazon.com

While it may not be the most rewarding way to approach this music in the long run, having four star violinists dish up a season apiece is a lot of fun, especially if you're interested in comparing styles and sounds. Mintz is bright and wiry; Perlman rich, brilliant and intense; Zukerman dark and suave; and Stern has that marvelous, warm, "old-school" sound with an almost vocal vibrato. And the violins of the Israel Philharmonic? They play as though every one of them could step up and take a solo, no doubt because having four luminaries on the stage made them want to give of their best. While the interpretations, individually and collectively, don't offer much that is new or remarkable, the sense of occasion is palpable. DG's live recording, made at the Huberman Festival in Israel in 1982, is nicely balanced and quite atmospheric. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Experience and energy.......2007-05-04

The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi is so familiar to listeners of orchestral music that mention of the work is likely to get a few eye rolls, or even yawns, and all this exposure to the Seasons means there are a lot of recordings in the musical domain. So, with all these recordings, which one best represents Vivaldi's intent? There are two reasons this performance is the best Le quattro stagioni. The first reason is the amount of experience and talent the solo violinists brought to the work. The culmination of decades-long familiarity is easy to hear with artists like Pinchas Zukerman and Itzhak Perlman, and then add the gift of genius in Isaac Stern and Shlomo Mintz. Not often considered, also, this recording is of a live performance, the Huberman Festival in 1982, and the audience provides an infusion of energy to where every passage is crisp and clean and passionate. The final allegro in Autumn, for example, is so bright, so resplendently paced, that there has to be some unknown force of perfection at play. It was the audience, listening, interacting with their minds, helping the musicians to release the music to a sort of cumulative, artistic intuition.

An interesting "Four Seasons"..........2006-01-21

In this curious album, Maestro Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra invte a party of four of the most talented male violinists to perform Antonio Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" and have each of them do one of the seasons. In this live recording (there is also an applause after the end of each music), Stern (one of my favorite violinists) starts off in the spotlight with "Spring", Zukerman awes us with "Summer", Mintz delights us with "Autumn", and Perlman (my other favorite) shines and round off the cycle with "Winter". While some listeners (including myself) may dislike the relatively slow and heavy tempo in contrast to other lighter recordings (including Shaham with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, in my opinion the best performance of the cycle), it's interesting to listen to and feel the four soloist's different insights. It's worth listening.

There are better 4 Seasons out there!.......2003-07-24

I really love Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman, but I think they were both having an "off" day here--this isn't a particularly good Four Seasons. Much better, and far more inspired recording of the Four Seasons is the Trevor Pinnock/Simon Standage recording on Archiv records. Get that one!

Definitive and Sublime.......2003-07-13

This one is for the ages. The four violinists bring out the best in one another without compromising their own timbre. The Israel Philharmonic, always one of the world's top five five orchestras, shines brilliantly proving again Toscanini's statement that the Israel Philharmonic and an orchestra of soloists. The applause is annoying but you forget it quickly.

You've Tried The Rest, Now Try The Best.......2003-01-07

The Four Seasons is a Baroque masterpiece, at paar with all the classic compositions from Bach and Handel. Antonio Vivaldi created, without knowing it, in theory, the first musical tone poem. He was describing through music (primarily a string orchestra) the four seasons-winter, spring, summer and fall, describing what could have been the lines of a poem, or four different scenes. On this recording, with the prestigious label and the virtuouso violinists Iztak Pearlman and Isaac Stern, the experience is the best. Baroque perfection. As is the case with all my reviews, I will discuss the structure of the piece and give my thoughts as to the quality of this particular recording. I have already judged it terrific, and truly the best recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Now it's up to you to hear the recording and get the desire to listen to the whole thing, not just for leisure, but for inspiration and for music appreciation.

The winter movements are appropriately slow, bleak, chilly, you can almost feel the frost on the ground and the snow falling slowly over hazy skies. The faster movements denote a snowstorm, there is no one out in such invernal conditions. The adagio movement is a description of a house with a warm fire burning during the cold front. The soothing strings and the faint quality of the piece can be like a dream. It's truly Vivaldi's most romantic piece.

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In A Minor, BWV 1041: I. (-)
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In A Minor, BWV 1041: II. Andante
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In A Minor, BWV 1041: III. Allegro assai
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Major, BWV 1042: I. Allegro
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Major, BWV 1042: II. Adagio
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Major, BWV 1042: III. Allegro assai
Concerto For Two Violins And Orchestra In D Minor, BWV 1043: I. Vivace
Concerto For Two Violins And Orchestra In D Minor, BWV 1043: II. Largo, ma non tanto
Concerto For Two Violins And Orchestra In D Minor, BWV 1043: III. Allegro
Concerto For Oboe, Violin And Orchestra In C Minor, BWV 1060: I. Allegro
Concerto For Oboe, Violin And Orchestra In C Minor, BWV 1060: II. Adagio
Concerto For Oboe, Violin And Orchestra In C Minor, BWV 1060: III. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Convincing Bach Violin Performance.......2005-09-27

Stern is certainly to be revered as great violin virtuoso, whether on this recording or not is question.

My humble listening tells me that the first two offerings, A minor and E major Violin Concertos are a bit lackluster and scratchy, and as another review points out, even at bits sound a bit off.

However, for me the final two are magnificent. The final two movements of the Double Violin Concerto are superb, with Perlman and Mehta ringing in with gusto and passion. Gomberg as well does his part in making the oboe and violin concerto a triumph, with lilting, rich phrasing and clear tonality. Truly is a great soloist, and the third movement is outstanding!

Isaac Stern played this well.......2002-09-17

I found Gidon Kremer's version of the concerto in A minor to be much better. He blitzed through it brilliantly. Stern on the other hand played that concerto like a beginner, as if unsure of himself, and I think did himself and his abilities grave injustice. Maybe it's because I was expecting great stuff from him I was disappointed.
He and Perlman play the double concerto rather well though.

EXCELLENT!.......2002-04-18

Beautifully done.
Isaac Stern was simply the master of his art. As an artist myself, I found the music powerful, and it touches my heart. Appreciating music, I would not analyze it too much, simply enjoy. Let the musicans reach out and touch your hearts as well.

Isaac Stern - A Life in Music - Bach: Violin concertos.......2000-02-26

These recordings are OK. In the first two recordings, I found Stern scratchy and off-key (probably because they were bothe done the same day), however I found the second two refreshing and well-performed! In the Double Concerto, Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman give a well-done recording with beautiful effects! It all begins with a fast, 3-minute violin piece, then it goes into the beautiful middle movement of the piece (in Largo ma non Tanto)---this is probably the most beautiful piece ever written (or performed)--- it all ends with another 3-minute violin piece which is also well-done! The violin-oboe concerto in C-major (which is conducted by Leonard Bernstein) is extrememly well-performed and clear, however it does not posses the virtuoso that the other three do. I suggest this one with, Bach: Violin concertos with Pinchas Zukerman and Jose-Luis Garcia!

Recommended.......1999-12-23

If you're not a great lover of authentic baroque performance, then this CD is the best choice. Stern's violin is clear and beautiful. The orchestra plays just right - not too loud, but still present - unlike Grumiaux's famous version for Philips, which I find quite lame.

Isaac Stern 60th Anniversary Celebration

Average customer rating:

Please release DVD
A warm-hearted tribute to a beloved violinist
Euphoria on Disc
"Just Wonderfull"
Harmonies of life

Isaac Stern 60th Anniversary Celebration

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000025J9
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Vivace
Largo Ma Non Tanto
Allegro
Allegro
Andante
Allegro
Allegro Maestoso
Andante
Presto

Customer Reviews:

Please release DVD.......2006-09-16

After reading a large number of positive reviews below, I do not have to repeat how wonderful this CD is.
I just want to add one thing. This concert is even better if we watch it! The laser disc of the concert used to be available in Japan (where I am from) from Pioneer LDC (today's Geneon Entertainment). I do not know who has the copy right of the concert video today. But it would be great if a DVD of this concert should be released.

A warm-hearted tribute to a beloved violinist.......2006-06-21

Ohter violinists are virtuosos, but Isaac Stern was the benign godfather of New York classical music for thirty years. No amount of gratitude can reward him for saving Carnegie Hall from the wrecking ball. Here, several of his most intimate younger colleagues--Perlman, Zukerman, and Mehta--celebrate Stern with joyous performances of Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart.

Others below have commented on the uniqueness of this live-concert CD, but I'd like to highlight the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante. Zukerman has made a second career as a great violist, and here he and Stern are unsurpassed for closeness of spirit. Tempos are a bit slower than usual, especially in the second movement Andante, which is unabashedly romantic, but what would Isaac Stern be without a little shmaltz? I have always liked him best as a collaborator, especially in chamber music, and he doesn't disappoint here. Mehta keeps the orchestral texture of the NY Phil. light and bright. For a non-period recording, I would put this one at the top, along with EMI's CD of David and Igor Oistrakh.

Euphoria on Disc.......2006-01-12

I was raised on this recording, along with many others of Perlman, Metha, Zukerman and Stern. My mother had this recording on vinyl, and I have been searching for it on CD forever. And here it is, FINALLY! I have never heard another recording that so perfectly, wholly and palpably captures the pure joy of music-making, the adoration of the music of these composers, and the breathtaking exhilaration of creating art with other prodigiously talented, sensitive musicians.

He is the true musician who, ever and always, sublimates his own ego in devotion the the creation of beauty for its own sake. On this recording, all four of these incredible musicians do exactly that. The result is absolutely astonishing. It seems no matter how many times you listen to this recording, it always takes your breath away. And that is truly a feat. Oh, to have seen the live performance!

"Just Wonderfull".......2005-11-06

What a 60th anniversary! Extremely impressed with the lively Bach Concerto in D minor for 2 violins (Vivace). Truly a masterpiece. Stern and Pearlman at their best!

Harmonies of life.......2004-04-21

This disc will become a favorite of any musicologists collection. The tonal stirrings of Isaac Stern complemented by the technical range of Itzhak Perlman and the expressive bowing of Pinchas Zukerman make for a truly stunning "live" performance. These are works well-known to the performers and orchestra alike with a complete understanding of tempo and tonal fluctuation throughout each work. I only wish this disc could have been originally recorded with modern technologies to exemplify the true mastery displayed by these virtuosi.

Average customer rating:

Making the best case possible for Faure's music
can't be played on computers
Intriguing pieces, very well done
FINESSING FAURE
Another Classic Quartet

Fauré: Piano Quartets

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Franck - Sonata for violin and piano · Debussy - Sonatas · Ravel - Introduction and Allegro / Chung · Lupu · Ellis · Melos Ensemble

ASIN: B0000027U7
Release Date: 1993-01-12

Tracks:

Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola And Cello No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 15: I. Allegro molto moderato
Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola And Cello No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 15: II. Scherzo. Allegro vivo
Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola And Cello No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 15: III. Adagio
Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola And Cello No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 15: IV. Allegro molto
I. Allegro molto moderato
Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola And Cello No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 45: II. Scherzo. Allegro molto
Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola And Cello No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 45: III. Adagio non troppo
Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola And Cello No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 45: IV. Allegro molto

Customer Reviews:

Making the best case possible for Faure's music.......2007-02-24

I can only add a few personal comments to Mr. Sobel's intelligent and perceptive review. These are, as he says, glorious performances, and if you buy the 'expanded edition,' you get a mesmerizing transcription for Yo-Yo Ma of Massenet's Meditation from Thais for violin (a moldy chestnut, but Ma plays it as if it's genius). Faure's chamber music is written in his own private harmony, relying a great deal on parallel chords; his melodic inspiraiton is uneven and often tepid; his idiom can be cloying, like taffeta and whipped cream, made bitter with melancholy-- an uneasy mix.

Therefore, it's quite difficult to pull off either of his two Piano Quartets; there's not enough variety from begining to end. Even so, the opening sonata movemens in both works are Schumannesque and carry the most passion and conviciton. The Scherzo of the second quartet is a lively tarentella-like dance, and the same work's finale is mostly strong and vigorous. That's four movements out of eighth that bring me lasting enjoyment (the droopy, somber slow movements are worth skipping unless you want a rainy day in your living room).

It was wise of Ax, Stern, Laredo, and Ma to emphasize the German side of this music, which if taken as too French (delicate, diaphanous, haunting) can seem spineless, a dream of sonata form instead of the real thing. It would be hard to imagine more persuasive accounts, in fact, and the recorded sound is fine.

can't be played on computers.......2007-02-16

No one could say a bad thing about these artists of course, but be warned that the CD cannot be played on computers (or at least on my two Dell laptops).

Intriguing pieces, very well done.......2004-05-21

To call these works by Faure mood pieces would be as apt a description as any. The later opus 45 Quartet is the more popular as well as the more mature and somber work. Unlike its younger opus 15, it doesn't offer much of a lift for the spirits; but, I suppose, that was not the intent of its creator. Nevertheless, this solid group of artists gives sensitive and extremely well played performances of both works. I find the earlier quartet especially satisfying. Each of its four movements is quite attractive. The first is fairly intense and rhapsodic. The second (scherzo) is reminiscent of sound track music for a Charlie Chaplin movie, however, lest one consider this sacrilege and take umbrage, I will assert it is somewhat more sophisticatedly charming. Here, pianist Ax displays a very pleasant litheness and is nicely accompanied by his stringed partners. The adagio has a tinge of sadness, but the group underscores beautifully its poignant qualities. In the final movement, the quartet is warmly attuned to the mixture of colorful, freely flowing sentiment. Sound quality is very satisfying.

FINESSING FAURE.......2001-11-09

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) inhabits a "sound world" uniquely his own: moody, harmonically complex, sometimes neurotically so, melodically elusive. Less readily accessible than either of his French contemporaries, Debussy and Ravel, Faure's chamber music, nonetheless, is infinitely rewarding and certainly should be more widely recorded and available.

This remarkably rich offering of Faure's only two piano quartets (in C Minor, Op. 15 and G Minor, Op. 45) will, no doubt, go a long way in re-energizing interest in this coupling of the composer's most "popular" ensemble works. The reason is obvious: Ax, Stern, Ma, and Laredo. These musicians, glorious all, bring to Faure a warmth, freshness, depth, clarity and affection I've never heard in any other interpretation. Rather than dwelling on the somber, often disturbing musical elements Faure can manifest, these remarkable performers infuse the music with a robust charm, full-blooded emotional intensity and a delicious sense of pluck that is irresistibly impish--- all seeming easily and spontaneously generated.

Accessible is a word that is critical here. All too often, and Faure is no exception, it is the performance that can make or break a composition, especially on initial hearing. Faure needs finessing, understanding, simpatico; otherwise, his chamber compositions can sound a tad oppressive. Musicians, like these, who reach into the very core of Faure and retrieve the penultimate glories of his searching, timeless Adagios, who can transform opening Allegros into masterpieces unto themselves, and whose playing radiates the subtle, naive delight imbued in the Scherzos, are the kind of incredible artists who enable Faure to have his say and to become readily and beautifully accessible.

Violinist Stern and violist Laredo meld effortlessly, yet elucidate Faure's complex writing sublimely, while Ma's cello is always supportive, never intrusive, and pianist Ax, superb throughout, keeps apace of every mood, every shift in design, every nuance--- and never center-stages himself. The integration of this ensemble, particularly in these Faure piano quartets, is a miracle to hear, their playing raising these works to near pinnacle height; yet, at the very same time, keeping Faure entirely approachable. The recording itself, too, is a revelation: warm, full, detailed and thrillingly realistic. The "presence" of these musicians is immediate.

[Running time: 66:54]

Another Classic Quartet.......2001-01-02

Virtuosos Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax, Isaac Stern and Jamie Laredo have once again struck chamber gold. The group responsible for classic discs of piano quartet music by Beethoven/Schumann, Brahms, Dvorak and Mozart (see my reviews of the latter two) have recorded another gem with this album. Coming from a jazz background, I can only compare these men's musical understanding and familiarity to that of the classic Coltrane Quartet. As far as the compositions go, Faure's two piano quartets were written in the 1880s, and they are hauntingly beautiful, and surprisingly dense and layered. While Faure is not as well known as the five classical composers mentioned above, this disc should do a lot to remedy that problem.

Brahms: Piano Trios Nos. 1, 2 & 3; Piano Quartets Nos. 1, 2 & 3

Average customer rating:

This is TRUE chamber music
Gorgeous music, great performance
Brilliant Recording, Excellent Deal

Brahms: Piano Trios Nos. 1, 2 & 3; Piano Quartets Nos. 1, 2 & 3

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Mendelssohn: Piano Trios Op. 49 & Op. 66
Belcea Quartet ~ Debussy · Dutilleux · Ravel
Brahms: Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets
Schumann: Complete Piano Trios
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano

ASIN: B000002A8T
Release Date: 1995-12-05

Tracks:

Trio For Violin, Violincello, And Piano No. 1 In B Major, Op. 8: I. Allegro Con Brio - J. Brahms
Trio For Violin, Violincello, And Piano No. 1 In B Major, Op. 8: II. Scherzo. Allegro Molto - Trio. Meno Allegro - J. Brahms
Trio For Violin, Violincello, And Piano No. 1 In B Major, Op. 8: III. Adagio - J. Brahms
Trio For Violin, Violincello, And Piano No. 1 In B Major, Op. 8: IV. Finale. Allegro - J. Brahms
Trio For Violin, Violincello, And Piano No. 2 In C Major, Op. 87: I. Allegro - J. Brahms
Trio For Violin, Violincello, And Piano No. 2 In C Major, Op. 87: II. Adante Con Moto - J. Brahms
Trio For Violin, Violincello, And Piano No. 2 In C Major, Op. 87: III. Scherzo. Presto - Poco Meno Presto - J. Brahms
Trio For Violin, Violincello, And Piano No. 2 In C Major, Op. 87: IV. Finale. Allegro Giocoso - J. Brahms

Tracks:

Trio For Violin, Violincello And Piano No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 101: I. Allegro Energico - J. Brahms
Trio For Violin, Violincello And Piano No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 101: II. Presto Non Assai - J. Brahms
Trio For Violin, Violincello And Piano No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 101: III. Andante Grazioso - J. Brahms
Trio For Violin, Violincello And Piano No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 101: IV. Allegro Molto - J. Brahms
Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 2 In A Major, Op. 26: I. Allegro Non Troppo - J. Brahms
Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 2 In A Major, Op. 26: II. Poco Adagio - J. Brahms
Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 2 In A Major, Op. 26: III. Scherzo. Poco Allegro - Trio - J. Brahms
Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 2 In A Major, Op. 26: IV. Finale. Allegro - J. Brahms

Tracks:

Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 25: I. Allegro - Brahms
Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 25: II. Intermezzo. Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Trio. Animato - Brahms
Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 25: III. Andante Con Moto - Brahms
Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 25: IV. Rondo All Zingarese. Presto - Brahms
Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 60: I. Allegro Non Troppo - Brahms
Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 60: II. Scherzo. Allegro - Brahms
Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 60: III. Andante - Brahms
Quartet For Violin, Viola, Violincello And Piano No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 60: IV. Finale. Allegro Comodo - Brahms

Customer Reviews:

This is TRUE chamber music.......2005-10-18

These CD's contain some of the best chamber music ever recorded.
Each member of the ensemble seems to fit in without ever dominating.

If you want to hear how chamber music should be played - get these discs!

Gorgeous music, great performance.......2003-05-13

This is one of my favorite CD's. Excellent musicianship and sound quality are a bonus. The real draw to this cd, however, is the passionate interpretation the music. They really capture the emotion behind Brahms' music. I would recommend this to anyone who likes chamber music.

Brilliant Recording, Excellent Deal.......2000-04-19

This album is by far the most crisply recorded, lusciously played, and reasonably priced of all recordings of Brahms' chamber music. There is a 2-CD version with just the quartets for marginally less, but this is the one to get. There's plenty written about the recent Ma, Stern, Laredo, Ax effort (hard not to, considering that cast), which won Gramophone Magazine's best chamber album of the year. The trios are of equally fine quality (Stern is just as luminous in this much earlier performance), in rich, dark analogue sound, and make a superb offer in and of themselves. When coupled with the quartets for roughly the same price. . .? You really can't go wrong. A must buy.

Mozart - The Flute Quartets, K. 285 · K. 285a · K. 285b · 295 / Rampal · Stern · Accardo · Rostropovich

Average customer rating:

Masters At Work
Nearly impossible to tire of listening to this recording....

Mozart - The Flute Quartets, K. 285 · K. 285a · K. 285b · 295 / Rampal · Stern · Accardo · Rostropovich
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Jean-Pierre Rampal , Isaac Stern , Salvatore Accardo , and Mstislav Rostropovich
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Bach: Flute Sonatas
The Best Of Jean-Pierre Rampal
Haydn: London Trios/Divertissements
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ASIN: B0000026FT
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Quartet in D major, K.285: Allegro
Quartet in D major, K.285: Adagio
Quartet in D major, K.285: Rondeau: Allegretto
Quartet in G major, K.285a: Andante
Quartet in G major, K.285a: Tempo di Menuetto
Quartet In C Major, K.285b: I. Allegro
Quartet In C Major, K.285b: II. Andantino: Thema: Andantino
Quartet In C Major, K.285b: II. Andantino: Variation I
Quartet In C Major, K.285b: II. Andantino: Variation II
Quartet In C Major, K.285b: II. Andantino: Variation III
Quartet In C Major, K.285b: II. Andantino: Variation IV
Quartet In C Major, K.285b: II. Andantino: Variation V: Adagio
Quartet In C Major, K.285b: II. Andantino: Variation VI: Allegro
I. Andantino: Thema: Andante
I. Andantino: Variation I
I. Andantino: Variation II
I. Andantino: Variation III
I. Andantino: Variation IV
II. (Menuetto); Trio
III. Rondieoux: Allegretto grazioso

Customer Reviews:

Masters At Work.......2005-10-20

One could not have a better combination of performers for a piece such as Mozart's flute quartets. All of them are virtuosos in their instruments and it sure sounds like it. These graceful pieces by Mozart will make you feel as if you're strolling down the park on a sunny day without care in the world. There is really nothing to discuss in terms of technical detail as the performances are flawless in almost every respect. I felt the performance was a little too fast in its interpretation for Mozart and the Rococco style but that is really a minor point. This is a great album for one's collection in which one can hear some of the greatest performers do Mozart's delicate flute quartets.

Nearly impossible to tire of listening to this recording...........1999-10-25

As a purchaser of classical, baroque, rock, and hip-hop music, "Mozart, The Flute Quartets" is an essential part of my listening mix and has been for several years. These selections are spirited in rhythm & tempo, and, are punctuated with the captivating dynamics of 4 world renowned musicians. In addition, the wonderful sonic quality of this 1986 DDD recording stands head and shoulders above most other classical cd's in my small collection. Perhaps the combination of Mozart, great musicianship, and, excellent digital reproduction leads me to be biased. However,please know that friends and family always comment favorably when they hear this cd. In my opinion, this specific recording would be an excellent choice as a gift.

Average customer rating:

Masterful Mozart

Mozart: The Piano Quartets

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Mozart: The Complete Piano Trios
Mozart: The Six String Quintets
Beethoven: The Piano Trios
Mozart: Complete String Trios & Duos
Mozart: String quartets K. 465 "Dissonance", K. 458 "The Hunt" & K. 421

ASIN: B0001ENYJ4
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Tracks:

I. Allegro - Jaime Laredo
II. Larghetto - Jaime Laredo
III. Allegretto - Jaime Laredo
I. Allegro - Jaime Laredo
II. Andante - Jaime Laredo
III. Rondo - Jaime Laredo
I. Andante - Richard Stoltzman
II. Menuetto - Trio - Richard Stoltzman
III. Rondeauz. Allegretto - Richard Stoltzman

Customer Reviews:

Masterful Mozart.......2006-01-27

These two "Piano Quartets" are Mozart at his most magnificent. The team of Ma, Ax, Stern and Laredo, who also brought us classic chamber recordings by Beethoven, Brahms, Faure, and most recently Dvorak, here tackle Mozart with glowing results. I have to say that while I'm a huge fan of Yo-Yo Ma and Isaac Stern, I can be luke warm about Emanuel Ax . While I don't dispute his virtuosity, I sometimes have found his playing style cold and uninspiring. Oh, but not here! This quartet's playing is wonderfully telepathic, and they make the music jump off the page. There's even a little improvising going on, and while it may not be of the same volume and nature as John Coltrane and Miles Davis, it is of similar quality. This Mozart "Piano Quartets" is an essential purchase for serious fans, and a great introduction for newcomers. Happy 250th Wolfie!

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