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Review by mwagner1962 June 6, 2005 (6 of 6 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics (S): |
Before the other night I had never heard of Akiko Suwanai, and after a few days of listening, I am glad I HAVE heard of her!!! I have heard some of these pieces played live before, usually at pops concerts...and usually played with a lack of anything resembling a sense of care or feeling...
I do not want to sound sexist, but this gal can play!!!! She is playing on a borrowed Stradivarius, nicknamed "The Dolphin"...hmmmmm, I need to do a little research to see why this particular Strad is nicknamed after a fish. Needless to say, she gets a sound out of that Strad that is stunning!!!!
This music here is a collection of pieces that fall just short of "major" concertos (more like encore pieces) though Akiko Suwanai does them full justice!!!! Particularly, the Saint-Saens "Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso" and Ravel's "Tzigane" are top notch!!!
Ms. Suwanai plays with a great deal of warmth, personality, and maturity that allows her Strad to really sing!!!
The recording is top notch, with the violin a bit forward and the orchestra back a ways. The location is one of those semi cavernous halls that seem to dominate the UK, though praise be that this was not recorded in the dreadful Barbican. And a final THREE CHEERS to Phillips for making this a DSD and not just a PCM!!!!!!
Highly recommended!!!
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