Search - Paganini, Saint-Saens, Chang :: Sarah Chang - Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 ~ Saint-Saëns: Havanaise / Sawallisch

The Next Immortal

Nicolas Leobold | New York, NY United States | 03/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Niccolo Paganini was utterly mysterious in that, his glorious ability with the violin was so magnificent as to be literally supernatural. He will always claim the mantle as the greatest and most revered violinist the world has ever known. Now two hundred years later a new violinist, Sarah Chang, has won the hearts and minds of a fascinated classical audience with performances that astonish and bring the magic of the great composers of the past alive once more. In this great recording of Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 1, Sarah Chang has achieved another milestone in her long string of recording masterpieces. Her command of the rhythmics, harmonics, and melody is supreme. Her speed and precision are miraculous. Now 19, the Korean-American Chang made this recording at 13, in 1994. If ever there was a human being who could reach the heights that Paganini once inhabited, it is this young lady. Just as we worship Paganini as an immortal legend of the past, we can now admire and love Miss Chang, an immortal artist, a living legend, living among us today."

Superb performances.

Gilbert Chang (vio1025@mail.ethome. | 01/06/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sarah Chang tosses off the tremendous technical difficulties in the Paganini with disconcerting ease. Even the long passage of double-harmonics in the third movement is note-perfect. Her performance is a perfect blend of splendid virtuosic flair and heartwarming lyricism. The only thing that disappoints me in the Paganini is that she made some minor cuts in the Sauret cadenza (well, very few violinists play the complete version), and skipped an entire section in the third movement, like all the other DeLay pupils.The two Saint-Saens showpieces, superbly played, are very different interpretations from those of Heifetz. Even if you adore Heifetz's interpretations, Chang's are well worth listening to. These are ardent, full-blooded romantic performances, to say nothing of the impeccable technique. The only thing I would desire would be a bit more rubato, such as prolonging the long trills more."

An anwesome CD!

Klarenka | 07/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great CD, I think one of Sarah Chang's best. The Paganini concerto is precise and clear, without a missed note. (The orchestra also does a wonderful job here.) But the real reasons to buy this CD are the Saint-Saens pieces, Havanaise and Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. Wow. Amazing. The Havanaise is haunting in the slower sections, just beautiful. Chang displays a maturity in this piece not often heard from 13-year-old musicians. And the Introduction and Rondo is even better, albeit in a different way. The piece is terribly exciting with its violin fireworks, and Chang plays flawlessly. I own several recordings of the Introduction and Rondo and this is by far the very best of them all. Even if you don't like Sarah Chang or classical music in particular, I highly recommend this CD."