Caprice basque (Capricho vasco), for violin & piano, Op. 24
Aaron Rosand is one of our greatest violinists, whether you know him or not. Listening to him dig into these showpieces, you hear phenomenal facility, tremendous tonal quality and variety, and the musical impulse to make... more » the lightweight music come alive. It's all quite exciting, especially if you have my taste for these delightful Spanish tidbits, some of the best violin encores ever composed. I'm pleased that this bargain reissue restores the correct name of Eileen Flissler, Rosand's late wife, who appeared under a pseudonym on the original LP issue because Vox didn't want Sarasate played by a female pianist. Figure that one out! --Leslie Gerber« less
Aaron Rosand is one of our greatest violinists, whether you know him or not. Listening to him dig into these showpieces, you hear phenomenal facility, tremendous tonal quality and variety, and the musical impulse to make the lightweight music come alive. It's all quite exciting, especially if you have my taste for these delightful Spanish tidbits, some of the best violin encores ever composed. I'm pleased that this bargain reissue restores the correct name of Eileen Flissler, Rosand's late wife, who appeared under a pseudonym on the original LP issue because Vox didn't want Sarasate played by a female pianist. Figure that one out! --Leslie Gerber
The definitive recording of Sarasate's works for violin
10/28/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mr. Rosand is the only modern violinist who truly understands the Spanish idiom and communicates it with great sincerity and joy. His playing of Sarasate's works for violin is marked by "duende" - that inexplicable possesion of a great artist by the ancient spirit of Spain, its history, and its people. Listen carefully to Mr. Rosand's loving and unhurried phrasing, his unerring sense of the Spanish dance rhythm, and to his signature tone and style. No other living violinist plays this way anymore. And no other violinst has recorded these works as well as Mr. Rosand. This is a "must have" recording for anyone who loves the violin. Sarasate may be long gone, but thank God we still have Mr. Rosand and this recording with us!"
"Rosand is a superb musician. He's a honest , convinced and meticulously artist.
I could watch his craft twice in Caracas in 1978 and 1980 and I saw in Paganini No. 1 and Sibelius . I must confess his presence is very far to be arrogant; and gifted with charisma.
His Sarasate reading is overwhelming. He knows how to get the perfect balance in every little piece. His Gipsy airs with Fodor version are the best in the market . The golden pieces are the Basque caprice , Navarra , Zapateao and Malagueña.
Acquire this album because despite the miniathurist composer who Sarasate was, the rapture feeling given by Rosand deserves for you the effort.
You'll be amazed if you still haven't had the chance to listen this great artist."
Rosand, the Supreme Sarasate Interpreter
CJV | Illinois | 02/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I purchased this CD after doing a little homework on Aaron Rosand. Also, I listened to some of the CD sound clips to get an idea of the performance, granted it was through computer speakers. Sarasate is a difficult composer for violinists to master; hence the research before the purchase. Rosand plays exquisitely. He is masterful and gets everything right; no missing notes or sloppy articulation; There is a caveat; during my first listen to the CD, I kept looking at my speakers wondering why isn't the sound evenly distributed during the dance pieces. It dawned on me; it's because the violin is placed in the left speaker side and the piano in the right; a method some recording studios used in the 1970's. Don't let this deter you, it still sounds very good, I believe this CD is best performance available for Sarasate on the market. It is without a doubt the Gold Standard. Rosand's 1741 Guarnerius del Gesu violin soars with such unbelievable power and tone, it's mesmerizing. This CD stretches the limits of what can be done on a violin. As for the less than happy reviewers mentioned here; never mind them, they lack true violin artistry."
A happy reunion with an old friend
Harvey S. Picker | Hartford, CT United States | 08/10/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Some time in the early '60s, I found this recording (33 rpm) in the bargain bin of a 34th Street record shop in Manhattan. Neither the soloist nor the orchestra were familiar to me (and as someone else noted, the piano accompanist was then anonymous). That bargain proved serendipitous; I enjoyed many hours listening to it and went looking for other recordings by Aaron Rosand. (His recording of Ravel's Tzigane, with the same orchestra, is a spellbinding display of virtuosity.) In my mind, he belonged right up there with both Oistrakhs and Nathan Milstein. But my old 33s are worn and I no longer have a functioning turntable. So I was delighted to find this CD on Amazon, and happy to find that the performances are every bit as good as I remembered. (Though I would agree with another reviewer that David and Igor Oistrakh outshine Rosand and himself on the Caprice Basque, there is nothing shabby about the latter performance.)
It has always amazed me that there are numerous superb violinists who never made it into the canonical pantheon of virtuosi, including a blind woman teaching at a liberal arts college who gave a riveting recital in--of all places--the MIT Music Library. I count Aaron Rosand as one of the best among these. Anyone who enjoys the king of instruments (the violin, of course) should find this CD quite rewarding."