Search - Johannes Brahms, Max Bruch, Stephen Gunzenhauser :: Bruch, Brahms: Violin Concertos

Satisfying Version

Leslie Richford | Selsingen, Lower Saxony | 12/19/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 1989 Naxos CD contains two of the 19th century?s most exciting violin concertos, exquisitely played by Japanese soloist Takako Nishizaki who is adequately accompanied by the Slovak Philharmonic. The performance is directed by American conductor Stephen Gunzenhauser who has made quite a number of recordings for Naxos and Marco Polo.



Max Bruch is today known chiefly by this, his First Violin Concerto in G Minor, an emotionally exciting piece in three movements which run into each other (the whole lasts here for some 24 minutes). Bruch has the soloist enter right away after the opening drum-roll, and there are some initial fireworks before the gentle Adagio offers a sweet contrast. The Finale is sub-titled Allegro energico and again gives the soloist a chance to shine. ? Despite the fact that the music lexicon I use says that this piece is so popular that every self-respecting violinist should have it in his or her travel-bag, I have never had the opportunity to hear another version, neither live nor recorded nor on the radio. That is reason enough to thank Naxos and Ms. Nishizaki for this performance; my impression has been that the standard of recording here was better than on many other Naxos CDs, and although the empty recording venue (Bratislava Concert Hall) is a slight problem (echoing, particularly on crescendos), it is my estimate that most fans of classical violin music will be satisfied with this version.



The Brahms Concerto is obviously modelled along the lines of Beethoven?s, with the massive first movement containing an orchestral introduction that lasts several minutes and the whole lasting, on this recording, over 24 minutes. Takako Nishizaki plays brilliantly; she has opted for the cadenza by Fritz Kreisler, which not only gives her an opportunity to show off her virtuosity but, to my amateur ears, sounds like she is playing two violins at once! (She demonstrates similar techniques on her recital ?Romantic Violin Favourites?, recorded together with Wolf Harden.) The slow movement (8?54?) is a highly-charged cantabile Adagio, the final Adagio giocoso (8?29?) introduces elements of Hungarian folk music in rondo form.



As with many Naxos CDs, this one does benefit from being heard on excellent hifi equipment; if such is available to you, it will probably give you many hours of enjoyment.

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