Search - Johannes Brahms, Berliner Philharmoniker, Daniel Barenboim :: Itzhak Perlman - Brahms: Violin Concerto / Barenboim

Perlman's remake of the Brahms concerto could use more life

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 06/15/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Usually famous musicians get raves here at Amazon even for lessthan stellar work, but this Brahms Violin Concerto with Perlman and Barenboim (a remake for EMI of his famous recording with Giulini) deserves some serious criticism. The Gramophone has often pciekd Perlman's earlier effort as their first-choice, but here his playing is far too cautious. Barenboim, typical in his late phase, gives us slow tempos with little inner tension. Brahms is a composer of struggle and dramatic conflict, but you wouldn't know that listening to this expert, mellifluous performances.



The first movement proceeds very slowly (22+ min. compared to Reiner's 18+ min. with Heifetz on RCA), and although Perlman is note-perfect, barenboim doesn't give him a foundation to shine. The slow movement goes at the normal tempo, and here Perlman's sweet melodic line and the refined playing of the Berlin Phil. help make up for the lack of inner life. The finale comes off as more or less a good night at the concert hall, with excellent ecexution by soloist and orchestra. It oculd be a little more rambunctious, but obviously making waves was the last thing Perlman and Barenbim had in mind."

AMAZING

Patrick Oneal | 03/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the clarity and accuracy of Heifetz, the energy of Stern. This recording is by far my favorite of the Brahms violin concerto that i've heard."