Search - Benjamin Britten, Takuo Yuasa, Glasgow BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra :: Britten: Violin Concerto/Cello Symphony

None Better, Just Different

John B Wolff | Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA | 09/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wonderful performance of the Violin Concerto and is simply the best that I have heard. I have, presently, six different recordings of the Vl. Concerto in my collection and this is, at this point, my favorite. The scherzando is simply the finest of any and displays complete authority but always at the control of her wonderful musicianship. The finale is also most fine.
In short, as a violinist, I believe this to be an outstanding performance and worth full price. Naxos is offering a virtual gift and I would have gladly paid full price. The strange work for cello is one that I have never really gotten next to, but one can have a much better go of that process here than with the other two recordings with which I am familier. I swear that Hugh can still make music with this work that has technical traps that make it umplayable for the everyday cellist. The sound is almost beyond reproach, and most will believe it to be beyond reproach, but I have a little problem with always being able to hear the soloists so well. Just me, and this is really a very natural balance in todays world of having the soloist well out in front of the orchestra. Would that all concertos were this well done for balance. Buy this if you like violin concertos, if you like Britten, or if you want to expand your musical horizons. Exciting performances and one of the twentieth centuries best violin concertos."