(24) Capriccios from the Netherlans for Violin

Advantages: Mutter's eloquence and sensitivity in older recording are enhanced here.
Disadvantages: None at all!

...performances. I’ve always found a rare, affecting quality in Mutter's distinctive sound. A pure, silvery tone unlike any other flows effortlessly from her Strad, yet she avoids descending to soporific and maudlin lows. Her more expansive reading, the greater elasticity than is usual of her sustained notes, allows one to absorb, ponder and appreciate the sheer exquisiteness of the music more fully. Read on to see why this disc will rank among my DIDs (desert island discs) for all time. ~~~~~~~~~~ As befits its Teutonic origins, the Brahms violin concerto is a weighty one, in contrast to, say, the Mendelssohn. In this seminal work, Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) displays some of the most emotive and lyrical musical themes in the classical repertoire. Brahms wrote it for his good friend, Joseph Joaquim (1831-1907), asking the great Austro... Read review

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Advantages: Thrilling, daredevil chamber music performances from the legendary Martha Argerich and partner-in-crime Gidon Kremer.
Disadvantages: Violinist Kremer occasionally on the mannered, spastic side; only forty-three minutes of music.

.... Then again, you might just like them more than I do! ++ For a more thorough introduction to Martha Argerich, you may want to read my other post (or you may not!): http://www.ciao.co.uk/BachKeyboardWorksReview5359921 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CD Notes: LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770 - 1827) Sonata for Piano and Violin no. 4 in A minor, op. 23 1. (1) Presto 6’56 2. (2) Andante scherzoso più Allegretto 7’20 3. (3) Allegro molto 5’15 Sonata for Piano and Violin no. 5 in F major, op. 24 "Frühlings-Sonate" ["Spring"] 4. (1) Allegro 9’41 5. (2) Adagio molto espressivo 6’02 6. (3) Scherzo. Allegro molto 1’19 7. (4) Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo 6’34 MARTHA ARGERICH, Piano GIDON KREMER, Violin Deutsche Grammophon (P) 1987 43’23 417 787-2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Performances for comparison:) From: BEETHOVEN... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent cd for relaxing or romancing
Disadvantages: Doesn't include bottle of wine!

...compliment each other with this classic - harmonizing wonderully, close your ears to the wailing though it's awful, fortunately it's very short. CANZONE STONATE Featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica and vocals and Bocelli on Klaviet, even though he isn't in the same league vocally as Bocelli, you kind of forgive Stevie because you can just imagine his smiley face grinning from ear to ear swaying from side to side. Again dinner music, Wonder providing only a few vocal lines which didn't upset theapple cart too much. SOLAMENTE UNA VEZ (Only once in my life) Violins, guitars, in the same vein as the other dinner songs, very easy listening, bit of a filler really JURAME Featuring Mario Reyes on Flamenco Guitar Has a very Spanish slant. A jaunty little number with Flamenco guitar, violins, it has more of an up-beat tempo than the previous... Read review

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