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VIKTORIA MULLOVA PLAYS SHOSTAKOVICH & PROKOFIEV VIOLIN CONCE

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 03/17/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Five INSPIRED Stars! Outstanding performances! This is an inspired, fateful musical meeting between the award-winning violin virtuoso Viktoria Mullova and the works of two of the 20th Century's greatest Russian classical composers, Dmitri Shostakovich and Serge Prokofiev. Shostakovich and Prokofiev lived during the height of the Soviet Union, which was so paranoid it even controlled composers and their music. Shostakovich was criticized in the national press and formally censured twice by the Soviet Union which meant his works could not be performed, his income was reduced, and he was forced to publicly apologize. Serge Prokofiev left Russia before it became the USSR and lived in the USA and Europe, but he returned to his native country as the USSR was cracking down on artists, demanding obedience and allegiance. Viktoria Mullova, on the other hand, was born near Moscow, and as a globetrotting young violinist was kept on a short leash when traveling outside of the USSR. But in her highly-publicized defection in 1983, she put on a blonde wig, left her Stradivarius violin in her hotel room as a decoy, and sought political asylum in the US Embassy in Finland. She rose quickly to the front rank of world-class violin virtuosos. And on this 1989 recording, a youthful Mullova shows she has a deep understanding of the brilliant music of her 2 countrymen. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Andre Previn is a great match with Mullova, showing Previn's 'attention to detail' in conducting the music of these two great composers.



The 'best of the best' begins with Dmitri Shostakovich's "Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Opus 99". His works are daring, original, and ultimately hopeful which is probably what alarmed the government. On Shostakovich's complex whirlwind of music, Mullova is brilliant and explosive, as she tames this 4 movement musical whirlwind which is full of technical problems, playing it like a controlled dervish, making it come alive as a mesmerizing experience. The 10 minute plus Nocturne (Moderato) movement and the 11 minute plus Pasacaglia movement with its blazing 4 minute cadenza are both loaded with calm & stormy musical moments. Prokofiev's "Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Opus 63" is a work of pure soaring beauty; not as technically demanding as the Shostakovich concerto, it is a test of the violinist's heart, command of nuance, and the ability to draw out the beautiful tone of the violin instrument itself. In her hands, Mullova's blazing intensity brings forth an impassioned performance especially during the Andante assai and the Allegro ben marcato movements. These are 2 works of great beauty and grandeur with Andre Previn and the RPO providing great support while expanding the tonal ambience. Viktoria Mullova is sensational throughout. This CD gets my Highest Recommendation. Five BIG Stars!

(Audio CD, with booklet translated into English, German, Italian, and French; 7 tracks; total time: 60:50.) (Trivia: Based on the timeframe, I believe Viktoria Mullova is playing her "Jules Falk" Stradivarius, not her 1750 Guadagnini violin, although the notes don't specify which of the two is used. Mullova lives in London with her husband and 3 kids.)"