Search - Beethoven, Brahms, Sibelius :: Great Violin Concertos

Wonderful Schumann and Sibelius

11/15/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album offers close to the best versions of Schumann's second violin sonata and Sibelius's concerto. Ferras and Barbizet's fierce violence in the opening, coupled with the beauty of the middle sections in the sonata, outpaces even Kremer/Argerich (DG) and Kaler/Slutsky (Naxos). Ferras and Barbizet's approach is exactly what you would expect from their Beethoven sonatas (EMI). The Sibelius concerto is just about the most gorgeous available in terms of sheer sound, and Ferras's playing is masterful and passionate. I like it as well as Oistrakh's versions, but there are those who prefer the latter. At the two-for-one price, these two pieces are worth the price of admission. The Brahms concerto is a very good reading of the score, and certainly among the best six or eight recordings of that piece. It is in the Beethoven that I part company with Karajan's approach. I believe the approach is his doing, though Ferras falls in with the plan. This is undoubtedly the most sumptuous and laid-back Beethoven concerto in the catalog. The sound of the orchestra and the violin are beautiful, everything is legato, and all the rough edges are rounded. Ferras even shapes his cadenza (the familiar one by Fritz Kreisler) to match the smooth and syrupy delivery of the whole. However, this amounts to a small complaint in an otherwise marvellous and economy-priced album. For those who want a crisp, biting, and vibrant Beethoven concerto, I recommend Stern and Bernstein (Sony). Some prefer Oistrakh/Cluytens (EMI) or Heifetz/Munch (RCA). The recorded sound is very good, almost excellent."

A Different but Pleasing Approach to Beethoven op. 61

05/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I finally found it on CD! The Ferras/Karajan recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto (on LP) was the first recording of this work I ever heard. I got it as a bonus with an introductory set of the Symphonies when I joined a record club in the early eighties. I had been only a casual listener of classical music at that time and the absolute beauty of this particular recording was one of the major factors in my learning more about this genre.The previous reviewer felt that this version lacked the "crisp, biting" quality of his favorite recordings of the work. This finally helps me understand why when CD's first replaced LP's, and this version was unavailable on CD, I could never find a CD version of this piece that satisfied me. I had become "imprinted" on this particular version, which inspired my love of classical music. I was especially moved by Ferras's solo passages in the slow movement.An extra bonus, which should be especially appealing to someone starting a classical library, is the inclusion of the wonderful Brahms and Sibelius concerti, plus the Schumann sonata. What a package!"

This Sibelius is the best

Dr John Shand | 05/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just on the Sibelius Violin Concerto with Christian Ferras. Astonishingly underrated. I was quite overwhelmed by it. (Only David Oistrakh is any thing like as good.) None of the showy scraping `gypsy' violin style, just nobility, power, strength and seriousness, which is just what Sibelius is said to have wanted. Apparently, Sibelius marked a slower tempo in the first movement than he might have done just to deter violinists from using it for virtuoso display. Ferras plays this piece as if it were a symphony: passionate with a superb full tone and magnificent intonation. Very good recording quality too. Karajan gives him just the right support: dark, powerful, purposive. Ferras isn't quite as well known these days as some other violinists - this may be partly owning to the fact that he died comparatively young, aged only 49 in 1982. I can't recommend it too highly."