Among the great 19th century works for violin and orchestra, Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto is perhaps the most lush and beautiful of all. The solo that opens this work--a bold move by Mendelssohn, as no concerto prior to this one opens with the soloist--has never sounded sweeter and the lyrical Andante brings to mind the composer's 'Songs Without Words' for solo piano. But it is the dazzling finale and Menuhin's astonishing capacity to excite that makes this recording a classic for the ages. History has not been kind to Max Bruch. Although the composer was highly regarded by Brahms, only his first Violin Concerto has become a concert staple. No doubt the enduring quality of this work is due to its rhapsodic nature as well as to its greatRead more sense of pathos. Menuhin is, again, in fine form here: the expansive melodies and dramatic shifts perfectly suit Menuhin's astonishing range and versatility. The Adagio has a grandeur and beauty that is perhaps unmatched in the repertoire while the vigorous finale displays Menuhin--a child prodigy two decades prior to this classic recording--at the peak of his artistic powers. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Concerto for Violin in E minor, Op. 64by Felix Mendelssohn Performer:
Yehudi Menuhin (Violin)
Conductor:
Efrem Kurtz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Romantic Written: 1844; Germany Date of Recording: 04/30/1958 Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studio No. 1, London Length: 26 Minutes 36 Secs.
2.
Concerto for Violin no 1 in G minor, Op. 26by Max Bruch Performer:
Yehudi Menuhin (Violin)
Conductor:
Walter Susskind
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Romantic Written: 1868; Germany Date of Recording: 09/12/1956 Venue: Kingsway Hall, London, England Length: 30 Minutes 0 Secs.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: ( 1 Customer Review )
Menuhin at his bestJune 3, 2013By David L. (chicago, IL)See All My Reviews"I have Heifetz, Kreisler, Stern, and others playing Mendelssohn's violin concerto, and this is among the best. Pure , no schmaltz. His Bruch is terrific."Report Abuse