Search - Ernest Chausson, Gabriel Faure, Cesar Franck :: The Great Violinists, Vol. 7

Interesting Mix of Performances

12/10/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD contains an interesting mix of performances. Suzuki's Franck is not very distinguished. He has some major intonation problem (there is a whole passage in the last movement that is glaringly out of tune), and tonally rather dry. He sounds like a very typical second-rated German violnist from turn of the century. And he is not helped by clumsy, bombastic pianist. But the other selections of this CD are another story. Thibaud/Cortot recording of Faure is probably the best ever recorded performance of the work. They play with enormous freedom and great charm, and somewhat manage to stay together effortlessly. A truely magical performance. George Enescu's performance of Chausson is deeply felt. Nobody has brought out the dark, meditative atmosphere of this work like Enescu did. The young Francescatti's dapper performance of Ravel ends the CD. He does not quite have the gut-shattering gypsy quality of the young Menuhin or Ginette Neveu, but his refinement and dazzling technique is in a class of its own. Thibaud, Enescu and Francescatti's recording have been released by several other company, so I have a mix feeling recommending this CD, but if one is curious about Suzuki the violnist, this is probably the only way to find out."