Search - Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, George Szell :: Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto; Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto

The Fabulous Francescatti

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 08/27/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This Sony "Great Performances" title marks the reissue of two of violinist Zino Francescatti's best stereo Concerto recordings -- the Mendelssohn with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra and the Tchaikovsky with Thomas Schippers and the New York Philharmonic. These performances were previously available on separate CDs in the "Take 2 - Sony Essential Classics" series (see my review of the Mendelssohn title), but both are now out-of-print. The highlight here is the 1961 Mendelssohn, one of my favorite recordings of the work along with accounts by Menuhin and Heifetz. On the other hand, the 1965 Tchaikovsky features good playing from Francescatti (though I prefer his mono account with Mitropoulos on the now OOP Sony "Masterworks Heritage" two-disc set), but with only adequate support from Schippers, who has never wowed me other than with his Barber (see my review of his recently reissued "Alexander Nevsky/Pictures at an Exhibition" GP title). Overall, these golden age recordings are a delight to have available again with improved sound, but I'm still disappointed that Sony has deleted its entire budget line just to reissue a few remastered gems at mid-price."

The best version of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

Brian C. Holly | Pittsburgh, PA United States | 02/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The other reviewers fail to give this recording the credit it deserves. It was one of my favorites 35 years ago, and when I saw it available here I was delighted, but upon reading the other reviewers, I wondered if perhaps I had been mistaken all those years ago. I was not. Francescatti was one of the four or five best violinists of the 20th century, and he simply plays the first movement of the Tchaikovsky better than anyone else. It is simply breathtaking -- an astouding adventure. Francescatti's playing both precise and passionate. Definitely superior to Heifitz, who often slurs passages. That's not passion; it's sloppiness. The sound quality of this recording is surprisingly excellent -- very vivid and alive."

The gentleman of violin per excellence!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 04/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Zino Francescatti meant for violin what Casadesus for the piano, and that's why their successful musical joining would not be regarded such as mere coincidence. A meaningful colorist, gifted of a very distinguished phrasing and eloquent expressiveness.



This violin's gentleman gave for the posterity genuine musical gems hovered of warm lyricism, refined musicality without losing tonal opulence.



His performance of Saint Saens' Third violin concerto has no paragon. His Mendelssohn version still remains among the top five through the history of the musical interpretation. I would cite the another four. Szigetti- Beecham , Stern-Ormandy, Heifetz and Menuhin.



The Tchaikovsky violin concerto, to be honest has three unsurmountable high peaks: Kogan, Heifetz and Gitlis.



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