Ultimate Violin Classics: The Essential Masterpieces

Superb

This is an excellent value. Four of the greatest violinists in history captured in some of their best repertoire. The first CD is devoted to Ruggiero Ricci. He plays stunning versions of the Mendelssohn and Bruch No. 1 Concerti. It is an early stereo recording from the mid-1950's, and the sound of the orchestra is somewhat dim, but Ricci's playing carries all before it. Two popular Saint-Saens works complete the CD, in better sound. George Mendelssohn Bartholdy said to me that Ricci was as good as Heifetz, but he looks like a gnome. I don't know if that explains his career, but his playing on this disc is everything one could desire. Henryk Szeryng plays Mozart's 3rd through 5th concertos on the second disc, with a rich tone and moderate tempos, backed by the excellent support of the New Philharmonia conducted by the underrated Sir Alexander Gibson. 3 and 5 have superb sound engineering, 4 somewhat less so. The third disc pairs David Oistrakh and Lev Oborin in Beethoven's Kreutzer and Spring Sonatas. The sound engineering is somewhat old fashioned, with the two instruments each occupying their own channel. The slow movement of the Spring is in monaural, perhaps due to a defect in the stereo master tape. The performances are leisurely and chamber-like, but with real charisma all the same. The last two CDs are devoted to popular encores played by Arthur Grumiaux. He plays with fabulous technique and great sensitivity, whether in Kreisler, Massenet's Meditation from Thais, or the bravura of Ravel's Tzigane. In sum, this is a box that will delight both beginners and seasoned collectors. October 25, 2008

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