Search - Henryk Szeryng, Fritz Kreisler :: Plays Kreisler

5 Stars even for Want of the Viennese Flavour

BLee | HK | 01/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The recorded sound is not bad at all...in fact, quite good-- though not as good as the average modern recording, nor quite as good as Syeryng/Hablaer's Mozart Sonatas, but it's very close. What this record interests me is the way how a Maestro of the Carl Flesch tradition ( albeit he also learned from the French violinist Thibaud and Enescu ) of Polish origin would interprete such Viennese music. To some audience, the Viennese glamour and elegance, or the Kreisler sort of assurance isn't quite there: somewhat like when Furtwangler conducted the Waltz, it was not quite the same thing as Strauss himself conducting, however great Furtwangler was. To some audience, other than Kreisler himself, perhaps Morini got it better, however superb or gracefully Szeryng played these pieces. But, if one is to choose between Oistrakh or Szeryng as far as these pieces are concerned, I definitely prefer the latter!In mitigation, we have the fullest support possible from Reiner, although he stayed very much in the background, so much so that these pieces are full of life and music as though these small pieces are miniature symphonies. Believe it or not, great conductors are naturally great accompanists of the top notch... Furthermore, we have some other pieces which are not Kreisler music, like Leclair and Gluck or even Locatelli, any one of these jems is worth the ticket itself! If you are looking for an alternative for Kreisler, by all means check this out."

Divine

Sat Jagat S. | immersed in bliss | 01/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not "knowledgeable" about classical music, Henryk Szeryng or Fritz Kreisler and so can't compare this recording to how it's "supposed to" sound or some other performer. I only know what I like. I was searching for one particular piece, "Praeludium and Allegro", that I had seen recommended for students of Suzuki violin. But I have to say that this (downloaded) CD has quickly become one of my favorite recordings of classical music. For me, Szeryng's performance of the pieces is rich, romantic and really carries the spirit along. The fidelity of the recording is excellent."