Search - Bruch, Beethoven, Campoli :: Scottish Fantasia for Violin & Orchestra

Campoli the charmer

12/09/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is great to have Campoli's dashing performance of "Scottish Fantasy." He is not as aggressive as Heifetz, but still dazzling in his own way, and the way he plays more lyrical sections are charming and heartwarming. His Beethoven, on the other hand is not memorable. Campoli was essentialy a charmer of the violin, and was wonderful in romantic repertore whether a concerto or short pieces (Decca should reissue his Kreisler album! ). But when it comes to the mighty Beethoven concerto, he sounds somewhat underpowered and lacking the backbone. It is all sweet and lyrical, not unlike Kreisler, but Kreisler had a firmer grasp of the concerto than Campoli. As far as the orchestra and conductor, Boult provides a distinguished accompaniment for Bruch, and Krips provides a rather lame one. I would have given 5 stars if Bruch was coupled with Campoli's excellent Mendelssohn concerto, but with the current coupling, 4 stars is about right (since I think the Beethoven performance is only worth about 3 stars). But I would still recommend this disc because Bruch ranks with one of the very best."

I disagree

03/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I guess one cannot argue tastes, because I love Campoli's version of the Beethoven. Of Huberman's, Kreisler's and Campoli's, I prefer the latter. He alone seems to get to the heart of the piece, and I guess this means providing a tempo flexible enough (and slow enough) to catch the beauty of the concerto, since this is not a bravura piece but poetry. Campoli's tone is so beautiful as to be unique. I guess a quibble is that I would have preferred it in stereo. And I prefer the Bruch because Campoli's tone really lends it something to elevate it above the fluff that it is."