Isaac Stern - The Essential Isaac Stern

Title: The Essential Isaac Stern Artist: Isaac Stern Release Date: 2008 Label: Sony Classical Essent Duration: 151:26 Album Type(s): Various artists collection, Special essay (music history, styles, etc.) UPC: 886972818726 Genre: Chamber Music Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 2

1. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77
   - 1. Allegro non troppo
2. Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D minor ("Double"), BWV 1043
   - 2. Largo ma non tanto
3. Romance for violin & orchestra No. 1 in G major, Op. 40
4. Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor, Op. 26
   - 2. Adagio
5. Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
   - 3. Allegretto ma non troppo; Allegro molto vivace
6. Violin Concerto, Op. 14
   - 2. Andante
7. Symphonie espagnole, for violin and orchestra in D minor, Op. 21
   - 5. Rondo. Allegro
8. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35
   - 3. Finale. Allegro vivacissimo

1. Quintet for 2 violins, viola & 2 cellos in C major, D. 956 (Op. posth. 163)
   - 1. Allegro ma non troppo
2. Piano Trio in B flat major ("Archduke"), Op. 97
   - 3. Andante cantabile ma però con moto
3. Sonatina for violin & piano in G minor, D. 408 (Op. posth. 137/3)
   - 2. Andante
4. Trio for 2 flutes & cello in G major ("London"), H. 4/2
   - 1. Andante / 2. Allegro
5. String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 111
   - 1. Allegro non troppo, ma con brio
6. Romantic Piece No. 1 for violin & piano ("Allegro moderato"), B. 150/1 (Op. 75/1)
7. Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor, Op. 101
   - 3. Andante grazioso
8. Humoresque No. 7 for piano in G flat major, B. 187/7 (Op. 101/7)
9. Vocalise, instrumental arrangement, Op. 34/14
10. String Quartet No. 2 in D major
    - Nocturne
11. Liebesleid (Love's Sorrow), for violin & piano

Isaac Stern may have begun his career as "just" a virtuoso of the violin, but his legacy exists as so much more. A consummate and passionate musician if there ever was one, he was also an ambassador of classical music to the American people, the savior of Carnegie Hall, and a mentor to countless students. This two-disc set entitled The Essential Isaac Stern reveals but the tip of the iceberg of his legacy. The first disc is devoted to single movements of eight of his appearances with orchestra, in particular the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy, with whom he had a long-standing, highly successful relationship. The works selected do not entirely reflect the breadth of his repertoire. The same is true of the second disc, which focuses on his many chamber music recordings with some of the greatest musicians of the last century, including Pablo Casals, Leonard Rose, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Yo-Yo Ma to name but a few. In all cases, what listeners will hear is the very essence of Stern: not a technically flawless performer (though his technical prowess in his earlier years was unrivaled), but a musician with a deep understanding of the music at hand and a unique ability to convey its emotional content to his listeners. The only possible downside to this collection is that it only gives bits and pieces of larger works; in many cases, this will leave listeners wanting more and certainly seeking the complete recordings of this distinguished master. ~ Mike Brownell, All Music Guide

Name Credits David Foil Project Director Dennis Collins Liner Note Translation Don Hunstein Photography Elisabeth Ladwig Graphic Design Eugene Ormandy Conductor Isaac Stern Violin Leslie Collman-Smith Product Manager Philadelphia Orchestra Orchestra Reinhard Luthje Liner Note Translation Roxanne Slimak Art Direction