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Site review by Polly Nomial February 1, 2007
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Performance: Sonics (MC): |
Immediately after listening to Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto - Fischer, Kreizberg, I thought it was time to have another listen to one of my longer established favourite violinists. The comparison is not to Mutter's advantage; the playing is wilful and, perhaps due to this being recorded in concert, there are (unusually) minor lapses of intonation on more than one occasion.
The most obvious instance of the wilful manner of interpretation is the treatment of the second subject in the finale - I have never heard so violently held back and it completely disrupts the onward momentum. The rest of the performance, as all of Mutter's are, is thought provoking but here it is not admiration that lasts in the mind - more a sense of continued frustration.
However, I will not banish this disc from my shelves because the Korngold that completes the disc is absolutely sensational! In contrast to the Tchaikovsky is freely expressive and captures the volatile and febrile lines to perfection; her nervous energy is well placed here. As the LSO are frequently visited by the major film studios, they play the precedents for today's scores without peers.
The recording is also made of two differing conceptions. The Tchaikovsky, from the Musikverein (Vienna), is harsh on both Mutter and the Vienna Philharmonic - a clear case of audible PCM masters. The studio recording given to the Korngold is much finer; a better balance between soloist and orchestra as well more detailed and smoother sonics on the high violin lines. I'd be tempted to say that this is one of the best recordings that DGG have given anyone in recent years.
As a performance, the Tchaikovsky would get 2.5 stars, the Korngold 5 stars; time-weighted average of 3.5 stars. Similarly the recording merits 3 and 4.5 stars respectively; average this time of 4 stars.
Buy this for the Korngold only.
(Purchased)
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Copyright © 2007 John Broggio and SA-CD.net
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Review by akiralx October 24, 2004 (7 of 9 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics (MC): |
An excellent SACD - sonically the use of the rears is very discreet, just emphasising the clarity and warmth of the recording, although to be honest I didn't really notice the quality of the sound as the performances are so good.
I'm not a particular fan of the Tchaikovsky concerto (I really got this for the Korngold) but this is a very fine interpretation: high quality playing from the soloist with plenty of imaginative touches. I've never heard Mutter's much earlier version with Karajan, which I imagine is 'straighter', but no need to worry that the eccentricities which marred her second version of the Beethoven Concerto with Masur would materialise here.
This is a superb live performance with plenty of poetry and bravura. The VPO are in top aristocratic form and Previn is as an imaginative accompanist as his soloist wife.
The Korngold is if anything even better - first of all the recording is as good if not finer than the coupling, completely eclipsing Gil Shaham's version (also on DG with the LSO and Previn, CD only) which was wrecked by the absurdly close balance of the solo violin, making the listener's ears cringe at the climaxes. Mutter's violin is also slightly too closely observed, which makes me deduct a star for sonics - but generally the sound is very pleasing.
Just listen to Mutter's lovely playing in the central Romance - and then enjoy the vividness of the recording in the sparkling finale, with the soloist's pizzicato chords and the woodwind solos crystal clear.
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Review by Scott December 30, 2005 (3 of 8 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics (S): |
This is a great performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto by an all-star cast - Mutter, Previn and VPO. To top it all off, DG (at least this once!) has done an excellent job capturing the sonic glories of this violinist, the orchestral accompaniment, and the fabled Musikvereinsaal where the performance took place.
Mutter takes a fairly straightforward approach to the Tchaikovsky concerto, though not without some degree of individuality and accent. Previn appears to be comfortable with giving the VPO the freedom to play this work, which they all probably know by heart anyway.
Booklet notes contain a great deal of Mutter/Previn ruminating on why "more corn than gold" Korngold never received the recognition he deserves, after which Previn crowns Mutter as the interpretive queen of the Korngold Violin concerto, an honor other professional violinists might be happy to concede and hardly befitting or reflective of Mutter's true skills. Commentary is accompanied by full color, glossy photos of Mutter on almost every page, an obvious "sex-appeal" sell-out that Karajan would never have countenanced.
Equipment - Sony DVP500 SACD, Sony STR-De575, Mirage Omni 260's.
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