Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Richard Kapp, Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra :: Schubert: Works for Violin & Orchestra

Fine Schubert but only for 43 minutes

Ross Kennett | Narooma, NSW Australia | 03/27/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Schubert: Works for Violin & Orchestra



I came accross this CD while browsing through works by Schubert and thought it should be some little known Schubert of interest. My first reaction was one of disappointment, only 43 minutes, and over a third of that not real Schubert.

But what of the music ? The first 3 works on the disc are by the 19 year old Schubert, the first a concert piece for violin and orchestra sounds like a sketch for a violin concerto, the violin part well developed and interesting, the orchestra part rather simple. The second is a rondo for violin and orchestra, here both parts are well constructed and the piece sounds rather like early mozart, and that's quite a compliment. The third is the well known Polonaise, 6 minutes of pure Schubert, a delightful little gem. The last work on the CD is a rondo, written by Schubert when 29, for violin and piano, the piano part has been orchestrated by the conductor. Again the violin part is very good ; I find the orchestral part a little over-ornamented, I don't think it sounds much like Schubert, but I will keep listening.

I have no quibble with the performance, as I would have expected, Mela Tenenbaum plays superbly, and is well supported by the Czech Philamonic Chamber Orchestra.

A rating ? I would give the performance 4.5 stars, but the sheer meaness of a CD of only 43min prevents my rounding up to 5. There was a large choice of Schubert to fill the 20 minute shortfall, even if it wasn't for violin and orchestra."