Khachaturian/Kabalevsky: Violin Concertos

On this CD:

1. Violin Concerto, in D minor (also arranged for violin & piano)
Composed by Aram Khachaturian
Performed by Scottish National Orchestra with Lydia Mordkovitch
Conducted by Neeme Jarvi

2. Violin Concerto in C major, Op. 48
Composed by Dmitry Kabalevsky
Performed by Scottish National Orchestra with Lydia Mordkovitch
Conducted by Neeme Jarvi

Tracks:

Allegro Con Fermezza
Andante Sostenuto
Allegro Vivace
Moderato
Andante
Allegro
Allegro Molto E Con Brio
Andantino Cantabile
Vivace Giocoso

Customer Reviews:

Transcendent..........2006-03-29

An astounding performance of some exceptional music; this is one of those older recordings in which the somewhat limited fidelity is transcended completely and wonderfully by the music itself. Wow! ;-)

Excruciatingly Beautiful.......2004-04-28

I have a special affection for the excruciatingly beautiful Khachaturian Violin Concerto, and this is my choice for the best recording. Here is the spectacle of brilliant young David Oistrakh in 1940 during the depths of World War II, standing on stage in Moscow with a single violin engaging in mortal battle with the USSR State Orchestra -- a sublimely beautiful battle that cries out the overwhelming change and struggles of the 20th century. Oistrakh caught up in the maelstrom of history, and emerging. On the surface the score has an ethnic "oriental" Armenian romanticism, timeless, beautiful and moving, yet at it's core it is modern, gritty, frantic, gigantic, and this conflict reinforces the feeling of the collision between the past and future ages. Or of the lone individual caught in the forces of history, fate and society enlarged beyond human scale. As for the performance, Oistrakh is able to bend the tones, dig for the raw textures and build the tension to wring intense passion that literally flies off the recording. In the Allegro, at times the strange harmonies and rhythms flood forth so rapidly they are almost too fast to hear. The force of Oistrakh's playing makes me wonder if he will break his violin. In the dark Andante his soul overflows with sadness and regret. The word virtuoso barely begins to describe the dexterity and soul of this amazing performance. What art! The orchestra under conductor Alexander Gauk captures a certain older native tonal quality of Russian music that seems to belong to some eastern tone system, slightly different than our ears are used to. Khachaturian asked Oistrakh to premier the piece, and I believe this is the first recording of it. It is interesting to compare this version with Oistrakh's 1960s recording with the composer conducting, also very beautiful, but in the extreme moments a more careful performance, and so less passionate.

Superb recordings by Oistrakh.......2002-07-15

Soviet recordings in the 1940's cannot possibly compare to the engineering of today, so allowances must be made for the sound quality in these archived performances. That being said, there is little to diminish superb performances by Oistrakh. Only two recordings compare with this Khachaturian - Kogan's phenomenal contribution and Oistrakh's second recording with the composer conducting. Like the Kabalevsky, it is thrilling in pace and the evocation of its folksy soundscape. The Glazunov is beautifully played, offering a lyrical, poised alternative to Heifetz's dazzling panache, though the latter remains this reviewer's favorite.

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

Recommended Music:

Way It Is [Import]

Donald Peck, Flute...

Debussy: Suite bergamasque for piano No1-4; Preludes Book2

Music: Meteo Sound

Enlightened Minds [New Age]

Evergreen Accordian [Import]

First Nursery Rhymes: Favorite Nursery Rhymes For A Fun Day With Your Little Ones

Continuum Performs Nancarrow

Classic Country: Neon Memories

Camino Al Cielo

Conflicting Emotions [Import]

Do Nada Ao Tudo [Import]

Deejay Parade Estate 2004 [Import]

Gluck: Ifigenia in Tauride (complete opera live 1957) with Maria Callas, Dino Dondi, Nino Sanzogno, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan

Last Dance