Brahms/Mozart: Violin Concerto

Oistrakh's performance of the Brahms is a fine combination of virtuosity and poetry. But the sound is a major drawback, placing soloist and orchestra distantly in a highly resonant acoustic. The violinist's classic 1970 recording with the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell would have been a better choice, and hopefully EMI will reissue it eventually (along with the Double Concerto pairing Oistrakh and Rostropovich). The Mozart, in which Oistrakh (playing viola) is partnered by his son Igor, is sheer delight from start to finish, with superb support from the Berlin Philharmonic.

Our rating

5

Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:47 pm

COMPOSERS: Brahms/Mozart
LABELS: EMI Studio Plus
WORKS: Violin Concerto
PERFORMER: David Oistrakh (violin, viola), Igor Oistrakh (violin)Orchestre RDF; Berlin PO/Otto Klemperer
CATALOGUE NO: CDM 7 64632 2 ADD (1961/72)

Oistrakh's performance of the Brahms is a fine combination of virtuosity and poetry. But the sound is a major drawback, placing soloist and orchestra distantly in a highly resonant acoustic. The violinist's classic 1970 recording with the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell would have been a better choice, and hopefully EMI will reissue it eventually (along with the Double Concerto pairing Oistrakh and Rostropovich). The Mozart, in which Oistrakh (playing viola) is partnered by his son Igor, is sheer delight from start to finish, with superb support from the Berlin Philharmonic. David Michaels

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