Johann Sebastian Bach George Enescu Pierre Monteux - Bach Violin Concertos Chaconne (10 tracks) +Album Reviews

Beautiful music, poor sound quality

Zedster | Tucson, AZ United States | 12/30/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There is no doubt that Menuhin is a virtuoso. However, the recording quality of this work is very poor by today's standards. If you are specifically interested in Bach or Menuhin, I would recomend this recording; if clarity of sound interests you, one should look elsewhere."

The Young Menuhin in All His Glory

shantinik | 07/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These were all recorded when Menuhin was between ages 15-19. The Bach Double was done at age 15 with his teacher, the great Georges Enescu. It will take you about three minutes to get past the 1930s recording quality to appreciate the musicianship here. This one, though, is not for those who like "period recordings" -- this one is unabashedly modern, in a 1930s kind of way. Still, appreciate it for what it is, rather than for what it is not."

Menuhin: an Artist like no other!

Brucknerian2006 | florida, USA | 08/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a marvelous recording, for it captures the greatness that was Menuhin. It is mono, yet for those of us who actually listen to the performance not the sound discrepancies, this is a recording not to be missed. This recording introduced me to the sound of Menuhin, and his Bach interpretation is truly something beautiful, at once full of pathos and the structural clarity so needed in playing Bach. I do not share the above review that the Chaconne is uninspired, and while it may be romantically realized this does not detract but merely adds to its uniqueness. Our century is all about period instruments and fidelity to the score or the manner of the time, this is something relatively new in the history of music performance and should BY NO MEANS BE CONSIDERED DOGMA. That being said I praise the greatness of Bach (that Double Concerto is truly something beautiful and ethereal) and the mighty talent of Menuhin, and thank God for the chance to hear them both.

Those of us who are not artists should watch our tongues. Who are you, who does not create or invent, to pass judgement on those who are above us all in the realm of Artistic construction?

"

Fantastic in all ways!

Ryan Kouroukis | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 12/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These are totally intense and firey peformances with Master and Disciple. Inspired interpretations and the rapt communion bewteen the artists is amazing.

The mono sound is excellent.

Indispensible for anyone's Bach collection!"

Menuhin: romanticism, refinement, passion and pride!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 12/22/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yehudi Menuhin has been the violinist with major sense of the refined playing. Somehow he represented the Renaissance 's artist. His serene temperament and sensitivity allowed him to play under the composer 's intentions and director as any other artist in the music. That excel virtue by itself is what it proves his fabulous readings of Bela Bartok under Dorati or his aristocratic Brahms under Wilhelm Fürtwangler, for instance. Maybe his major achievements be found out in the chamber music or intimate violin works such as The Mozart 's Violin Concertos or his memorable performances as director of the Bath 's Festival' s Orchestra.

The sumptuous, elegant and convincing phrasing of Yehudi Menuhin reached in this recording a particular apex. The artist is in top musical shape; Bach 's First and Second Violin Concertos are played under his teacher and close friend Georges Enesco; the First Concerto is played with admirable sense of noblesse. The Second one is widely known and the delicate performance is hued by notable details of modulation, the velvet tune and the accurate approach make of this recording a fundamental achievement in the career of this master.

Additionally we have Bach 's Double Concerto played by Enesco and Menuhin; a recording that by itself justifies the acquisition of this album.

The only serious problem resides in his Chaconne `s performance. Extremely stylized, played with excessive romantic approach and without ambition.

The absolute peak of his performances may be admired during his multiple appearances in Prades Festival, and once again the figure of Pau Casals as this untiring musical motivational spark plug that seemed to elevate the rank of performance of every one of his partners; this fact can be visibly observed since 1959 until the middle sixties.

An album of transcendent musical relevance for the actual generations and the musical newcomers of the present and the future.

"

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	Johann Sebastian Bach, George Enescu, Pierre Monteux Bach: Violin Concertos; Chaconne Genre: Classical Track Listings (10) - Disc #1 I: Allegro (Non Tanto) II: Andante III: Allegro Assai I: Allegro II: Adagio III: Allegro Assai I: Vivace II: Largo Ma Non Tanto III: Allegro V: Chaconne
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