Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Theodore Kuchar, Ukrainian Chamber Orchestra :: Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 3 & 5

Enthralling

David Saemann | 05/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a major bargain. Oleh Krysa is a Russian violinist who taught at the Moscow Conservatory and, last I heard, was teaching at Eastman. I heard him play live at Rutgers University in 1990 and was taken with his musicality and spirit. He plays with a somewhat wiry, Slavic sounding tone, but also with great delicacy and technical command. In addition to this Mozart album, there is an excellent performance of the Shostakovich 1st Concerto by Krysa on the same label. Here, he brings much soulfulness and panache to Mozart. I remember him playing Ravel beautifully live, and there is the same mixture of delicacy and intelligence in these performances. Theodore Kuchar proves here that, as in Naxos's American Classics series, there is much more to his abilities than just as a specialist in Russian music. He is a wonderful partner for Krysa, and his orchestra plays with a real love for the music. Whatever recordings you have of Mozart's Violin Concertos, and I have plenty, I recommend this CD for its low cost, insight, and wonderful spirit.

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A must CD for Mozart lovers

HB | Fort Mill, SC | 02/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Over the years I have found very few Mozart violin concerto performances to my liking. Sometimes the playing is cold, other times it is overwrought, etc. Here the playing is almost perfect. The unknown violinist here plays with pure joy. The performance is extremely vital and the orchestral contribution is superb. For 3 dollars, this is an outstanding bargain. Before it disappears, make sure you buy this. You will not regret it."