Bruch Suwanai Marriner - Violin Concerto 1 Scottish Fantasy (8 tracks) +Album Reviews

Clean and pure

Joseph Smith | Charlotte, NC United States | 10/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the dozens and dozens of recordings availible for this piece, I have to say this is probably the best one I have ever heard. Especially from someone like me, who has about nine recordings of every violin concerto ever written. I have, among others, a Pearlman, Zukerman, and Mutter recording of this peice, yet this seemingly unknown recording has a unique characteristic: Ms. Suwanai's cleaniliness of the notes and preciceness of the music. This peice can sound unbeleivably messy, especilly in the third movement, if the notes are passed over with no regard, yet every note is given individual attention, and yet every musical phrase is brought out to highlight the thick, romantic texture of the peice. Ms. Suwanai's particular attention to every detail makes this recording of the Bruch one of, if not the, best recordings on he market."

Lyrical treats

D. R. Schryer | Poquoson, VA United States | 11/29/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bruch's Violin Concerto No.1 (the best known of his three numbered violin concertos) and his Scottish Fantasy -- which is a violin concerto in all but name -- are, despite some virtuosic passages, inherently lyrical works. In this recording Akiko Suwanai responds to the lyricism of these works as naturally as a fish to water. As a first prize winner in the International Tchaikovsky Competition Ms. Suwanai clearly has a good command of technique, but in these performances she uses her technique to make her lyricism seem effortless. There are other outstanding performances of these two works by other violinists, but it is hard to think of them while listening to Ms. Suwanai spin out this lovely music with her own special touch."

BRILLIANT

Dianna C. | New York | 02/14/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I knew I was late in purchasing this item for Christmas and fully expected it to arrive within two weeks, but no sooner. I was so happily surprised to find it had arrived within the week of purchase. I found the product to be excellent in appearance, quality and sound. I am so pleased with my purchase and with the prompt customer service, I would not hesitate to purchase from this seller again. The person for whom this gift was intended was also extremely pleased with their gift, with the sound quality and with it overall. Thank you for making shopping a pleasure, and worry and hassle-free!"

A great Bruch g minor and Scottish Fantasy by a vastly under

Alan M. Silbergeld | Baltimore, MD United States | 12/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Suwanai's career is a puzzle. She is not yet forty, her in-print recordings command full price and her out-of-print recordings are quite expensive, yet she has published nothing (that I can find) recently. At least, I am relieved to find, her page on the Decca recording group seems to confirm that she still actively concertizes.

This CD proves her to be one of the very finest violinists who bridge the turn of the 21st century. Her technique is totally beyond reproach, she is highly musical and plays with all the soul of someone who might have been born in Odessa early in the 20th century (think Milstein, Oistrakh and Boris Goldstein,among violinists, or the wondrous pianist Benno Moisseiwitsch). Her playing is strong where appropriate but she is capable of the most tender caressing of the phrase when the music calls for it. And the tone she draws on her "Delfino (Dolphin)" Stradivarius is as beautiful as it gets. (This fiddle once belonged to Jascha Heifetz.)

I have about thirty recordings of the Bruch g minor concerto and eight of the Scottish Fantasy, and have listened to most of them. My favorite of the g minor is the Bronislaw Gimpel recording, with Gerhard Taschner and Wolfgang Schneiderhan close behind (revealing a pattern of preference for taking plenty of time with the slow movement and expressing its soulfulness in sweet, rich, dark tones). Having just listened to the Suwanai twice, I put it right up there with those performers, not in the least because of the almost viola-like sound she gets from the lower register, which the second movement shows off so well.

Her Scottish Fantasy, even better, is for me the definitive performance. Listen to the opening third movement. Suwanai plays this most Scottish of fiddle melodies as though it is her soul music. Again here, she issues the beautiful sounds of her Strad as if the fiddle were playing itself. When Bruch turns in movement four to an adaptation of the line "You take the high road and I'll take the low road and I'll be in Scotland afore ye" (from the song "The Banks of Loch Lomond"), her playing catches every bit of the nostalgia and love for homeland that every Scot must have. And the filigree which follows (over an orchestral iteration of the tune) is as delicate and beautiful as any I can imagine. The final movement turns again from song to a violin tune that could only be Scottish. Here, once more, Suwanai is totally in character and shows off her virtuosity superbly, with strong, clean double stops and a glistening tone.

Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin's in the Fields provide warm, rich, and glorious accompaniment throughout.

One can only hope that Decca will eventually produce new Suwanai recordings. She is among my very favorites. A must have CD, in my opinion."

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