Bach: Concerto for 2 Violins, BWV1043; Sonata for 2 Violins, BWV1037

Advantages: J. S. Bach; all musicians and vocalists; Karajan.
Disadvantages: Karajan's big, ponderous sound and historical inauthenticity, for some.

...choose to take it for what it is - and still enjoy some first-rate performances of two works that again serve to remind us of the towering genius that was Johann Sebastian Bach. Four-and-a-half stars (rounded off to five). = DVD Notes: (This DVD is available for purchase at few places. Here's one, sendit.com, for £10.99/ list is £14.99: http://www.sendit.com/video/item/7000000062208.) This being a musical performance DVD, some criteria rated above do not apply, but Ciao forced me to make a selection, anyway! = NEW YEAR'S EVE CONCERT 1984 JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685 - 1750) Concerto for Violin, Strings and Continuo in E Major, BWV 1042 I. Allegro 7.54 II. Adagio 7.02 III. Allegro assai 2.39 Anne-Sophie Mutter, Violin Magnificat, BWV 243 Judith Blegen, Soprano Helga Müller Molinari... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Well worth learning
Disadvantages: can be a bit of a minefield.

...Whether it is for yourself or your offspring, buying your first violin can be a daunting prospect - how do you know what you will need? Hopefully, this will help. Before you go shopping, ask around - your teacher if you have one or anyone you know who plays the violin, if you can get a recomendation of a good shop, this will make your job easier. Better still, try to elicite the help of someone who alerady plays - the advice of someone who knows their stuff can be very reassuring, as well as useful. The violin - you can really spend as much or as little as you like - you can pick up second hand Chinese violins for very little (£40?) you can spend thousands. Obviously, if you are starting out, you won't want a hugely expensive instrument. Spend what you can afford. Make sure the body of the violin is in good shape - avoid anything... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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

.... ********************* NOTE: To commenter #3, posted comment today, 27-8: the message I left in your gb, sir, should sufficiently clarify the situation. ---------------------------------- CD Notes: JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833 - 1897) Konzert für Violine und Orchester D-dur op. 77 Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major 1 1. Allegro non troppo (22' 55) Cadenza: Joseph Joachim, rev. Ossip Schnirlin 2 2. Adagio (9' 20) 3 3. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace - Poco più presto (7' 55) ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810 - 1856) Fantasie für Violine und Orchester C-dur op. 131 Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra in C major Transcription: Fritz Kreisler 4 Moderato semplice ma espressivo - Allegro marcato - Molto tranquillo - Tempo primo - Cadenza - Molto tranquillo (13' 12) ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER, Violine New York Philharmonic KURT MASUR... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful