Beethoven Violin concerto
Tue, Aug 16 2011, 8:47AM
Which recording(s) of the Beethoven Violin concerto do you like? I have a wonderful recording with Yehudi Menuhin and Leipzig Gewandhaus conducted by Kurt Masur. Absolutely sublime.
Tue, Aug 16 2011, 12:52PM
#2
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
It´s a vinyl, EMI-Angel DS-37890. It´s a digital recording so it should have been avaiable on CD. Recorded 1983. Couldn´t find it on Amazon, though. Also noted that Menuhin made several recordings of this concerto.
Tue, Aug 16 2011, 2:20PM
#3
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
Menuhin indeed recorded this concerto many times. There's a version I particularly like, from the 60's I think, in which Menuhin is accompanied by the VPO under Constantin Silvestri. I have it on LP and it's a stereo recording, but I'm not sure whether it's been transferred to CD yet.
Tue, Aug 16 2011, 9:54PM
#4
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
If you can find it there is a Japanese DVD with David Oistrakh and the LSO conducted by Sir Adrian Boult at the RAH in 1968 (B&W). In color there is an EMI DVD with Nathan Milstein and the LPO conducted by Boult at the RFH in 1972. Both, especially the Oistrakh, are worth hearing (and watching). On CD I like Suk/Boult on EMI and Heifetz/Toscanini on Naxos, the latter for its brilliance and speed - nothing spiritual there.
Wed, Aug 17 2011, 4:23AM
#5
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
I am very glad that Oistrach came to the fore. As for the violin part, he was the great master of this concert. The one with Clytens in a classic. I hope somebody may defend Kogan too. From the more modern ones, I always like Mutter for the beauty and solidity of the tone, while Zehetmair has the rest.
For the brilliance of the orchestra (in much better recordings - the CD, SACD or DVD are...products and, unfortunately they should be judged by the production values), I found the german views more superlative and closer to the essence of the work (Karajan, Masur for instance).
Finally, with all due respect to the Violin Concert of Beethoven, I haven't seen - so far - anyone intersted in any great (or not) work of Chamber Music, (Beethoven's String Quartets, Violin and Cello Sonatas as well as his Piano Trios are subjects for endless discussions). By the way, I have initiated a thread with the topic "Anyone intersted in Chamber Music" and, to my dismay, nobady seems to have the slightest interest. It's pity, the subject is absorbingly fascinating... Anyway, we'll see...
Parla
Wed, Aug 17 2011, 6:44AM
#6
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
Menuhin did indeed record this great work many times, with Furtwangler, Klemperer, Silvestri and Masur. I would say that he was at his best with Furtwangler. There is their famous Lucerne performance, as well as the EMI studio one (coupled with a fine account of the Mendelssohn). However, for me, their September 1947 Berlin performance tops the lot. It is sublime beyond words. As far as I know, it is only available as part of the superb Audite box of Furtwangler's post war RIAS recordings.
Thu, Oct 11 2012, 11:50AM
#7
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
Menuhin did indeed record this great work many times, with Furtwangler, Klemperer, Silvestri and Masur. I would say that he was at his best with Furtwangler. There is their famous Lucerne performance, as well as the EMI studio one (coupled with a fine account of the Mendelssohn). However, for me, their September 1947 Berlin performance tops the lot. It is sublime beyond words. As far as I know, it is only available as part of the superb Audite box of Furtwangler's post war RIAS recordings.
This is very interesting, I deeply love this work, but no-one ever mentions my favourites, Krebbers and Hubermann.
I have looked for this recording and as you say it only seems to be available as part of the Audite box at about £50. I wish I was a little richer. I see they have released a lovely audiophile vinyl edition of the set at £200, but it is only a selection and of the Beethoven it contains only symphonies.
Thu, Oct 11 2012, 12:46PM
#8
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
Has there ever been a better Violin Concerto than Beethoven's. I think not. Zimmermann with tate is excellent, slow and symphonic at times. A wonderful blend. Tetzlaff with Zinman is excellent to. Haven't heard Faust with Abbado yet.
Thu, Oct 11 2012, 3:11PM
#9
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
Grumiaux with Alceo Galliera [as opposed to the later version with Colin Davis] has always been my yardstick. Purity of tone but fire and grit when required. For me, Grumiaux has always been the greatest violinist I have ever heard.
Thu, Oct 11 2012, 8:35PM
#10
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
Personally I have never heard a pefromance that surpassed Wolfgang Schneiderhan with Jochum on DG. There is something about the playing that I feel speaks to the great simple beauty of Beethoven's finest compositions. By that I do not mean simple as lacking complexity - I just think Beethoven's greatest music is disarming - it is all about integrity. To this I would add Chung in a live recording with Tennstedt, which again speaks to Beethoven the 'plain speaker'.
Fri, Oct 12 2012, 11:52AM
#11
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
Personally I have never heard a pefromance that surpassed Wolfgang Schneiderhan with Jochum on DG. There is something about the playing that I feel speaks to the great simple beauty of Beethoven's finest compositions.
Naupilus, you have it in a nutshell. I just logged on in order to say the same thing. This evening I have listened to the Faust Berg /Beethoven CD as it was waiting for me when I got home, followed by Hubermann, Schneiderhan and now Krebbers. Krebbers is supremely beautiful in tone, unequalled there, his violin really sings, but Schneiderhan goes beyond all others and reveals a wonderful serenity in the work that is its essence. And as you say it's something simple. Beyond easy human description, but simple. Really Schneiderhan's performance is transcendent, at times it feels more like religious revelation than a piece of music.
Hubermann is interesting, well more than interesting, a staggering performance at the borderline between genius and madness. The sound isn't bad considering it's a 1936 mono recording transcribed from 78s, but there are a few moments when the highest violin notes are nearly lost in the orchestra which is a shame. We should be grateful this was recorded for posterity at all though. It really sounds as though the violin line is a living thing, snaking and wriggling and slashing around. There is nothing whatever of the serenity of Schneiderhan, this is something quite different, to be honest Hubermann appears to have been possessed!
There are another half-dozen different performances to go through at the vicarage, a further report will follow. I am so tempted to splash out the £50 for that Audite set. I have Menuhin/Furtwangler London 1953, but never really liked it to be honest, so my curiosity is piqued by the praise for Lucerne 1947 in this thread.
Thu, Oct 11 2012, 11:03PM
#12
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
I would stick with the one you have
Fri, Oct 12 2012, 2:41PM
#13
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
However, for me, their September 1947 Berlin performance tops the lot. It is sublime beyond words. As far as I know, it is only available as part of the superb Audite box of Furtwangler's post war RIAS recordings.
No! It's available on Testament. Less than a tenner. Snap it up folks...
Fri, Oct 19 2012, 12:38AM
#14
Surprised no-one mentioned
Surprised no-one mentioned the Walter/Francescatti 1961 recording yet.
To me there's a nobility in this performance that has never been surpassed. And the recording still sounds superb today, despite its 50 years of age.
Fri, Oct 19 2012, 7:02AM
#15
RE: Beethoven Violin concerto
The performance on Testament is the Lucerne one. The one in the Audite box is from a month or so later and is with the Berlin Philharmonic.
I still have a soft spot for the old Menuhin/Furtwangler, the underrated Suk/Boult, Perlman/Giulini and, latterly, the Zehetmair/Bruggen.
Never heard of the Menuhin/Masur.