Search - Mozart, Bruch, Oistrach :: Mozart: Sinfonia Concertate; Bruch: Scottish Fantasia; Hindemith: Violin Conerto [Australia]

An Occasion for Oistrakh

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 06/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Today I am celebrating two events -- my 34th birthday and my 1000th review on Amazon. What better way to mark the occasion than with one of my favorite violinists, David Oistrakh. After a couple attempts at obtaining a decent copy of this 2CD Decca Legends import, I have finally had the chance to savor these glorious performances. First let me mention an old fav, the definitive account of the Hindemith Violin Concerto with the composer as conductor. However, I will not go into great detail about this rendition having already reviewed it as part of a Hindemith title in the Australian Eloquence Series. Its pairing for both the original vinyl and disc 2 on this set is Bruch's Scottish Fantasia. This 1962 performance with Jascha Horenstein leading the London Symphony Orchestra is outstanding, and surely gives the critically acclaimed Heifetz/Sargent a run for its money. As brilliant as these two pieces are the highlights of this collection are arguably the two Mozart works. David Oistrakh relished his sessions with son Igor, and both the Sinfonia Concertante k364, with Kiril Kondrashin conducting Moscow Philharmonic, and the Duo of Violin and Viola k423 (both from 1963 with David playing viola and Igor playing violin) have a special bond that can only be described as the deep love and understanding that is shared between father and son. In all, these are milestone recordings for my milestone day."