Search - Joshua Bell, Brahms, Paganini :: Presenting Joshua Bell

A showcase for Bell's talent

04/14/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I realize this is an old recording, but if you are a Josh Bell fan it's worth listening to. The tracks may not have the same depth and artistry that his music does now, but there's more to his playing here than just his technique. The two Sibelius pieces really show that he had that ability to sing with the violin, even back then. His technique, of course, is stunning, especially on Novacek's Moto Perpetuo, Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy, and Wieniawski's Variations on an Original Theme. Bell may put more passion into his rendition of Variations on an Original Theme nowdays, but it's worth it to hear how close to technical perfection he came in his recording. Bell fans, and anyone with an interest in great violin music, should get this, if they haven't already."

Hard to find cd

classicaljc | North Point,, Hong Kong | 11/20/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I must say that I like this cd very much because all the pieces are well played and the piano part is also excellent. Joshua Bell has come to Hong Kong quite a few times and I attended nearly all his concerts and saw him sweating a lot during the performances. I hope his sweat will not do any damage to his violin. This cd is very difficult to find and the "London" label is not well known and I am not sure if it is a subsidiary of the Decca company in UK. If you are a cd collector, buy this disc for music sake. Thank you."

An introduction to Bell

Chicagotinnitus | chicago | 07/14/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This disc provides a fine blend of virtuoso and lyrical pieces, offering Bell a chance to show all dimensions of his talent. He finds repose in the Schumann, soaring lyricism in the Sibelius, and plenty of technical fireworks in the Sarasate and Wieniawski pieces. For the nit picky, the torrential thirds in the finale of the Carmen are a bit untidy and there is a regretfully insecure chord at 5:01 in the Bloch. Otherwise, his performances are well played and offer a fine introduction to his prodigious talent."