Search - Sergey Prokofiev, Dmitry Shostakovich, Andrew Davis :: Serge Prokofiev, Dmitry Shostakovich: Violin Concertos

The best performances of Shostakovich's Violin Concertos

the_drone | 04/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 2-CD set contains the EMI/Virgin Classics (CD Album/s(x2): 5616332) masterful performances by Dmitry Sitkovetsky of the Prokofiev and Shostakovich Violin Concertos. Sitkovetsky became a sensation for his bestselling arrangement for string orchestra of Bach's Goldberg Variations. But it is this 2-CD set, his best as a performer, which shows the range of his skill and the depth of his art as a violin virtuoso. His affinity for the material, both emotionally and intellectualy, is very strong, and it particularly shows in the Shostakovich Violin Concerto 1, by far the best performance committed to disk (far superior to Vengerov's). The Penguin Guide of Classical Music gave it a "rossette," indicating just how special this performance is; Gramophone and other reviewers have praised it just as highly. Amazon.com is doing its classical music customers (particularly the Shostakovich fans) a great disservice by improperly labeling this CD, which is also a great bargain. The information I include in the first line of this review is the correct label information. I hope this review helps correct this oversight."

Did NOT get a rosette - but who cares?

DKDC | Washington, DC USA | 05/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At least not in the 2003-2004 edition of the Penguin guide. The Lin / LAPO / Salonen cd did.



But this and the Vengerov/Rostropovich, the Chung/Previn, the Shaham/Previn and the Mintz/Abbado all seem to be neck and neck - depending on who is listening. The Ricci/Ansermet gets high praise, too.



I have this album and like it very much. Might as well be a rosette in my book."

Four Aces

Moldyoldie | Motown, USA | 04/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Soloist Sitkovetsky nails the idiom in all four of these fine performances in recordings which are well-blended for natural concert ambience -- spacious and vivid. The spikiness of the two Prokofiev concertos are seemingly accentuated by the soloist, but not at the expense of the works' inherent melodicism and beauty. Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra provide fine, unobtrusive accompaniment.



The performances of the two Shostakovich concertos are perhaps lacking the nth degree of drama, but are nonetheless played with passion and technical assurance. The accompaniment of the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Andrew Davis is slightly more problematic due mainly to the lack of outright heft and force needed in certain sections. The spaciousness of the recording probably works against it here, but not to any perturbable extent. Sitkovetsky "feels" this music, and so will the listener.



Normally I would give this package an overall four stars for artistic merit and sound quality, but a fifth star is warranted for this being one of the better bargains available on the market. Buy with confidence, especially as an introduction to these four benchmarks of twentieth century repertoire."