Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Edouard Lalo, George Szell :: Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Lalo Symphonie Espagnole

Despite some bowing quirks, Bronislaw Huberman was a great virtuoso, universally admired in the 1920s and 1930s for his transcendental interpretations. A reputation as a "difficult" artist kept him from recording often, but here, with George Szell and an inspired Vienna Philharmonic, he's galvanized to produce among the best performances ever made of these frequently recorded works. In the Beethoven, Huberman reveals the granitic strength of the score, varying his tone from silky smoothness to craggy rawness. The Larghetto illustrates his searching style, its slowly unfolding intensity heightened by Huberman's yearning tone and heartfelt phrasing. The Lalo inhabits a very different world, captured with dash and drama. Bryan Crimp's transfers of the 1934 recordings are first-rate. --Dan Davis