from the hundreds of versions crowding the catalogues in at least one respect, namely his own cadenzas. Beethoven didn't supply his own for the long first movement of his Violin Concerto, and Bell's thoughtful, stylish emendation easily stands with the frequently played Kreisler and Joachim cadenzas as a viable option. His extroverted yet well-proportioned cadenza in the Mendelssohn may not match the original's instant melodic appeal, but it certainly works. Elsewhere, Bell's direct, clean-cut, utterly dependable virtuosity will not surprise his legions of fans, who won't mind that the violin tends to dominate in the mix. Is that due to the engineering, or to Roger Norrington's somewhat reticent accompaniments? You'd think a chamber orchestra would help Mendelssohn's bubbling woodwind licks emerge with greater clarity. Likewise, small forces are capable of richer, more tonally varied and sustained string tone in the Beethoven's slow movement. --Jed Distler
from the hundreds of versions crowding the catalogues in at least one respect, namely his own cadenzas. Beethoven didn't supply his own for the long first movement of his Violin Concerto, and Bell's thoughtful, stylish emendation easily stands with the frequently played Kreisler and Joachim cadenzas as a viable option. His extroverted yet well-proportioned cadenza in the Mendelssohn may not match the original's instant melodic appeal, but it certainly works. Elsewhere, Bell's direct, clean-cut, utterly dependable virtuosity will not surprise his legions of fans, who won't mind that the violin tends to dominate in the mix. Is that due to the engineering, or to Roger Norrington's somewhat reticent accompaniments? You'd think a chamber orchestra would help Mendelssohn's bubbling woodwind licks emerge with greater clarity. Likewise, small forces are capable of richer, more tonally varied and sustained string tone in the Beethoven's slow movement. --Jed Distler
at war, were nonetheless musical and philosophical soulmates. Their recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto, made seven years after they first met, is one of the treasures of the EMI archive, a testament to a bygone era of spontaneous and deeply subjective music-making. There is a nobility to the reading that has never been equaled, an unforced passion that would be difficult for any of today's musicians to duplicate. The monaural recording is remarkably fine, with satisfying depth and abundant detail. --Ted Libbey
at war, were nonetheless musical and philosophical soulmates. Their recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto, made seven years after they first met, is one of the treasures of the EMI archive, a testament to a bygone era of spontaneous and deeply subjective music-making. There is a nobility to the reading that has never been equaled, an unforced passion that would be difficult for any of today's musicians to duplicate. The monaural recording is remarkably fine, with satisfying depth and abundant detail. --Ted Libbey
Advantages: Everything you could ever want from a classical CD Disadvantages: none
.... The Nutcracker - Suite
Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
17. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
18. Cavalleria rusticana
Composed by Pietro Mascagni
19. Gloria in D
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi
20. Coronation Anthems
Composed by George Frideric Handel
21. Cantata No. 147, 'Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben'
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
22. Requiem in D minor
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
23. Ave Maria
Composed by Charles Gounod
24. Miserere mei
Composed by Gregorio Allegri
25. Requiem
Composed by Gabriel Fauré
26. Lakmé
Composed by Léo Delibes
27. Les contes d'Hoffmann
Composed by Jacques Offenbach
28. Pavane
Composed by Gabriel Fauré
29. Gianni Schicchi
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
30. Madama Butterfly
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
31. Nabucco
Composed...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
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.
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As befits its Teutonic origins, the Brahms violinconcerto 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...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: A definite easy listen Disadvantages: Maybe too easy
...exactly say im 'into' it, i jus fancied a change. Its a good CD if u want to relax or for background music if u have sophisticated dinner parties!
Not one of the most used CDs iv bought. In fact i only listen to it about once evry 2 months so it isn't exactly excellent value for money.
Below is a list of the tracks incase ur interested. The CD is priced around £19.99 and available from most music stores such as HMV and Virgin Megastore.
CD 1
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Pachelbel: Canon
JS Bach - Air 'on the G string'
Mozart - Ave verum corpus
Handel - Largo
JS Bach - Jesus bleibet meine Freude
Mozart - Clarinet ConcertoBeethoven - 'Emporer' Concerto
Mascagni - Intermezzo
Bruch - ViolinConcerto
Rutter - The Lort is my shepherd
Saint-Saens - Aquarium
Holst - Venus
Chopin - Piano Concerto No 1 in E minor
Faure - Pie Jesu
Shostakovich...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
somewhat helpful 17.06.2004
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