Search - Felix Mendelssohn, Alexander Glazunov, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky :: Mendelssohn & Glazunov: Violin Concertos

Vintage Violin Playing by Josefowicz

frzire | Santa Fe, NM USA | 11/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is violin-playing of tremendous power and at the same time, finesse. Josefowicz has dazzling technique and interpretive intelligence and taste which place her in the stratosphere of the greatest violinists. (No, I'm not her dad.) Her playing of the Mendelssohn walks the fine line of conveying romance without ever being overly sentimental, and also conveys great inner strength and confidence. Her intonation is perfect. Her vibrato is always appropriate. Her phrasing is intelligent, very musical and interesting, not exaggerated. Her range of color is very appealing; her tone is beautiful. So what else do you want? (A concert video or two of this magnificent artist would be nice!)"

A Brilliant Mendelssohn Concerto from Leila Josefowicz

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 11/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beautiful young Leila Josefowicz is more known on the concert stages of the world for her enduring commitment to contemporary music, being frequently awarded works for premieres by composers who appreciate her musicality, her astounding technical prowess, and her passionate ability to communicate with her audiences. But that is not to say that she ignores the standard repertoire as is evidenced by this outstanding recording.



Josefowicz offers a Mendelssohn Violin Concerto that ranks with the finest. In collaboration with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra this full-bodied performance has all the elegance of line, the heartfelt romance of the melodic inventions, and the amazing facility to toss off the rapid pages with joyful abandon. It is simply a great Mendelssohn interpretation.



Glazanov's A minor Violin Concerto was once a staple of the repertoire but has in recent years declined in performances. Josefowicz adds new freshness to this lovely melodic warhorse and in her hands gives reason to reexamine the work. To round off the CD is Tchaikovsky's much-loved 'Valse-scherzo for violin and orchestra' and here this little bon-bon feels like an appreciated encore offered to her audience. The playing is cleanly articulated and rich in tone. For those unfamiliar with the gifts of Leila Josefowicz this CD is a fine introduction. Grady Harp, November 05"

Powerful beyond description

Anne Rice | Little Paradise, California | 04/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't find words to do justice to the explosive and gorgeous power of Leila Josefowicz' performance of the Mendelssohn. The energy, the force, the passion, the sustained perfection of this is beyond breathtaking. Leila has long been my favorite violinist but this performance outranks anything I've ever heard her do. The other two compositions were new to me and her playing was utterly dazzling. I want to listen to these over and over again till I know them as well as the Mendelssohn. I wish I could convey what this music accomplishes. It is raw yet polished; flawless yet seemingly spontaneous; lustrous, dark, and astonishingly fierce. There's an immense courage and boldness to Leila's playing that the technique always completely supports. It's overwhelming. The whole recording is priceless. I listened to it in a trance. You have to hear it for yourself to grasp this."