Search - George Enescu, Dinu Lipatti, Hans von Benda :: Enescu si Lipatti Interpreteaza Enescu si Lipatti

A place of highest honor in recording history.

Robert Manari | San Francisco, CA United States | 04/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"George Enescu was without any doubt one of the most musical gifted minds of all times. Not only an eminent composer whose works are being rediscovered now, but also a leading violinist of his generation (fortunately for us, the highly recommended CD containing his solo recordings for Columbia is still available from its producer, Biddulph Recordings, England). Not only was he a distinguished conductor (he conducted amongst many famous ensembles, the New York Philharmonic and the Paris Symphony Orchestra), but also a gifted teacher (his illustrious list of pupils including Yehudi Menuhin, Arthur Grumiaux, Ivry Gitlis, Christian Ferras and Ida Haendel). And as seen from these recordings, a very capable pianist as well (it was said that he could also play the cello...). Indeed, at his 1950 farewell concerto in New York, Enescu appeared as a violinist (with Yehudi Menuhin in Bach's "Double Concerto"), pianist (in his own Violin Sonata with Menuhin) and conductor (of his "Romanian Rhapsody").



Before tragically dying at the young age of 33, Dinu Lipatti was already established as one of the most talented pianists of his generation and well on his way of becoming one of the greatest ever. His recordings for EMI are all legendary stuff, but little is known that, he (as many good musicians of the old European school) was also an accomplished composer. His "Concertino in Classic Style" must be one of the most joyful and lyrical pieces ever composed and is, incidentally, one of my wife's all time favorites. It makes you yearn for more of the same, such as "The Gypsies Symphonic Suite", the `Symphonie Concertante for 2 Pianos & String Orchestra" or the "Romanian Dances for Piano & Grand Orchestra", all wonderful orchestral compositions, which are, unfortunately, rarely performed outside Romania.



A nice addition to Enescu's First Orchestral Suite presented here would be the complete cycle recorded by the renowned Lawrence Foster and his Monte Carlo Philharmonic. For all of Enescu's Piano Suites look no further than the ones majestically performed by the young virtuoso, Luiza Borac (also available in SACD). Nothing equals Enescu's interpretation of his own Violin Sonatas presented here (though Yehudi Menuhin came the closest...).



For a more contemporary reading of Lipatti's Concertino in Classic Style and more of his piano works, Marco Vincenzi under the Italian label Dynamic offers an attractive addition.



The two CDs presented here occupy without question a place of highest honor in recording history. I am confident that any knowledgeable music lover who listens to these CDs will arrive at the same conclusion.





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