|
|
|
Castor's very fine review is 100% on the mark! If this recording receives the recognition it deserves, it will surely be universally regarded as the recording of the century!
Because Steinbacher's interpretation and execution are sublime.
Because Polyhymnia excel even themselves in capturing the sense, the feeling, the sound of a real performance in a real concert hall.
And mark you - this one is a performance of real depth and understanding, as well as being superbly executed. It is a triumph for all concerned!
Run - don't walk - and buy two copies, one for you and one for your local classical music station!
|
|
|
Post by tream September 1, 2010 (2 of 20)
|
|
Windsurfer said:
Run - don't walk - and buy two copies, one for you and one for your local classical music station!
My local classical music station (KDFC, in San Francisco) is the top rated station in the Bay Area, and does it by pursuing a personality based "greatest hits" formula - lots of individual movements from easy to listen to composers, introduced by charming people, but rarely complete works, and almost never by a "difficult" composer like Bartok. This one would gather dust on their shelves, I believe.
We used to have 3 classical music stations in the area, and they played real music. Sigh.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Windsurfer said:
And mark you - this one is a performance of real depth and understanding, as well as being superbly executed. It is a triumph for all concerned!
What I might have better said about this performance is that it is illuminating. One hears familiar passages and one's eyebrows lift and one's mouth hangs open as one inhales in wonder.
Tream above, alludes to the "difficulty" of Bartok meaning that his music is not generally deemed "accessible". Steinbacher's performance transforms this music I had already begun to recognize as "substantial", "worthwhile" and "satisfying" into music that is rediscovered and now cherished, treasured, loved.
Whether the public radio stations' announcers have the depth to explore and bring this superb realization of the second violin concerto to the public remains a question and I, unfortunately suspect that the recording will never be more than a treasure among the Bartok "cognoscenti", of which there are far too few.
|
|
|
Post by hiredfox September 5, 2010 (4 of 20)
|
|
Windsurfer said:
What I might have better said about this performance is that it is illuminating. One hears familiar passages and one's eyebrows lift and one's mouth hangs open as one inhales in wonder.
You've sold me on it, copy ordered five minutes ago.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Arabella Steinbacher brings her innate musicality to bear on these problems, and the results are both distinctive and convincing. Her Bartók is at the more cosmopolitan end of the spectrum, and she's not one to launch into folk fiddling episodes on a whim. The sophistication of her playing is at least in part a result of her tone, which is rich and throaty and acts as a magnet to the ear. The beauty and inner complexity of her sound is endlessly fascinating."
read on!
http://www.classical-cd-reviews.com/2010/10/bartok-violin-concertos-steinbacher.html
|
|
|
Post by Beagle November 3, 2010 (8 of 20)
|
|
I enjoyed an All-Bartók evening last night: It is a real bonus to have both Violin Concertos here, rather than the usual No. 2 paired with whatever -- and delivered with a beautiful melding of performance and sound. I also listened to Bartok: Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, Divertimento - Kocsis, and I wish those works enjoyed the deep sound achieved on this disc by Erdo Groot and Roger de Schot. Three cheers for the sound guys!
However, I find myself once again annoyed by my pet peeve: the 1937-38 composition precedes the 1907-08 composition in playing order. Was the programmer afraid that purchasers wouldn't like the less-heard work and throw the SACD in the trash before playing all tracks???
|
|
|
Post by Claude November 4, 2010 (9 of 20)
|
|
I listened to the second concerto yesterday, and I rather agree with the lukewarm reviews. Compared to the few other versions I have heard (Menuhin, Kyung-Wha Chung, ...), the Steinbacher/Janowski interpretation is a bit too smooth and lustrous and missing the roughness in Bartok's sound.
|
|
|
Post by jazz1 November 4, 2010 (10 of 20)
|
|
The French review is not very positive to say the least!!
|
|
