Fritz Kreisler, incomparable violinist and prolific composer, was the supreme interpreter of his own pieces; his recordings of them have cast a spell on generations of performers. Joshua Bell succumbed to it as a boy, but... more » avoids the pitfall of trying to imitate Kreisler's style, putting his own stamp on both the original pieces and the so-called baroque arrangements, which Kreisler eventually admitted having written himself. The program, shrewdly chosen to display Kreisler's multifaceted versatility, includes stylized, graceful dances, dreamy reveries, outbursts of joy and passion, parodistic syncopation, and, of course, true Viennese character pieces. Bell's love of the music suffuses every note; he captures mood, character, and expression with flair and impeccable style. His playing, technically brilliant and tonally ravishing, has humor, wit, grace, elegance, and irresistible charm. Sentiment never becomes sentimentality; there is not a trace of schmalz or kitsch. The piano parts, with their sophisticated harmonies and skillful counterpoint, prove that Kreisler was a good composer as well as a fine pianist; Paul Coker plays them with just the right combination of rhythmic steadiness and idiomatic freedom. --Edith Eisler« less
Fritz Kreisler, incomparable violinist and prolific composer, was the supreme interpreter of his own pieces; his recordings of them have cast a spell on generations of performers. Joshua Bell succumbed to it as a boy, but avoids the pitfall of trying to imitate Kreisler's style, putting his own stamp on both the original pieces and the so-called baroque arrangements, which Kreisler eventually admitted having written himself. The program, shrewdly chosen to display Kreisler's multifaceted versatility, includes stylized, graceful dances, dreamy reveries, outbursts of joy and passion, parodistic syncopation, and, of course, true Viennese character pieces. Bell's love of the music suffuses every note; he captures mood, character, and expression with flair and impeccable style. His playing, technically brilliant and tonally ravishing, has humor, wit, grace, elegance, and irresistible charm. Sentiment never becomes sentimentality; there is not a trace of schmalz or kitsch. The piano parts, with their sophisticated harmonies and skillful counterpoint, prove that Kreisler was a good composer as well as a fine pianist; Paul Coker plays them with just the right combination of rhythmic steadiness and idiomatic freedom. --Edith Eisler
"Most violinists love Kreisler; somewhere in his many compositions can be found a piece to suit all moods - grandiose, sensuous, playful, sparkling. Furthermore, many are sufficiently easy technically to be played by amateurs of very little talent, such as myself. Bell plays the pieces on this CD superbly; he clearly loves this music. Each piece he turns and inspects thoughtfully so that it shines from all its different facets; and the beautifully balanced selection of pieces illuminatesthe essence of Fritz Kreisler's easy-going genius. This CD made me rush to pick up my violin and play again those pieces that I already knew, and to rush out and buy the music for some of the ones I didn't - for example I thought Bell's rendition of "Tempo di minuetto" was a revelation. Bell with this CD further establishes his position as a superb musician and one of the greatest of contemporary violinists, who is equally at home with the most demanding of large-scale concertos as with the most delicate chamber works. I feel sure Kreisler himself would have loved this performance. It is rare that one listens to a CD where one can think of nothing that could have been improved - except of course had it been twice as long! Come on Josh - there's a lot more Kreisler out there - give us Bell plays Kreisler II!"
Light Hearted But Not Light Headed
Frank Wortner | 08/29/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Perhaps because Fritz Kreisler was such a great musician himself, many have underestimated the difficulty of playing his music well. It is most definitely "ear candy," but just as candy can be a wonderful or poor, this music can be rendered marvelously or played without the charm, wit, and intelligence it deserves.Joshua Bell plays it to perfection here. It is light, airy, open. Paul Coker's piano accompaniment is first rate -- in fact, wonderful.If you like Fritz Kreisler's music, you should have this CD. Next to Kreisler himself, no one has ever played this music so well."
A connection of passion
Craig L. Bowers | Clinton, Ohio | 02/19/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After listening to disc after disc after disc of violin works, one finds oneself thinking, "Where has the passion gone for playing violin?" Yes, absolutely astounding recordings abound, but very few offer the true passion of putting the bow to the strings. Technique and "flawless" fingerings have reduced the modern virtuosi to mere composition puppets. They are all "perfect". It is truly a joy to hear a violinist passionate about his playing and that comes across very elatedly with Mr. Bell playing the pieces from Kreisler. Every track is played as though he honestly enjoys it! A superb recording from the student of Gingold."
Duet
John M. Barber | Salina, KS United States | 08/18/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While I bought this recording because I have loved Kreisler music for years, and I agree with the previous accolades, I was taken with the way Bell and his pianist complimented each other in their performance. I found myself listening to his piano and enjoying it, may I say, almost as much as Joshua Bell's wonderful talent. It was, I thought, in some ways, a duet.
I will certainly buy more Joshua Bell, and will look for Paul Coker on those recordings too."
Second only to Kreisler himself?
John M. Barber | 04/14/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anyone who ever dismissed Kreisler as a composer of cheap encore music is going to have to eat his/her words upon listening to this CD. Other violinists tend to treat Kreisler's works too roughly, or as encore pieces only a step above PDQ Bach. Violinists want to show off- it is their nature to be big and agressive and passionate in a fiery way. But that is not what is required here. A violinist has to throw him/herself wholeheartedly into the warmth and romanticism of these pieces to play them just right. And Joshua does that, better than anyone else save Kreisler himself. He obviously loves the music, has a great deal of fun playing it. He truly brings out the wit and charm in all of these pieces. As it turns out, Kreisler wrote some really good music. If you didn't notice that before, you will notice it in this CD."