Tchaikovsky – Violin Concerto (Itzhak Perlman) [1990]

Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Op. 35
1. I. Allegro moderato		17:59	
2. II. Canzonetta (Andante)		6:27
3. III. Finale (Allegro vivacissimo)	9:57	

Itzhak Perlman – violin
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Zubin Mehta – conductor

4. Sonata for Violin and Continuo in G minor, 'Devil's Trill'	13:52	
5. Liebesleid		3:16
6. The Love for Three Oranges: March	1:46
7. Baal shem: 2. Nigun		6:33	
8. 8 Etudes-Caprices Op. 18: A minor (arr. Kreisler)		1:43
9. String Quartet No. 1 in D Op. 11: Andante cantabile		4:57	
10. La Ronde des lutins Op. 25		5:03

Itzhak Perlman – violin
Janet Goodman Guggenheim - piano

Perlman is not my favorite violinist, although he is definitely up there. I think there are others, such as Gil Shaham and Hilary Hahn, who are more consistently exceptional. However, Perlman has a few recordings which simply cannot be topped. This is one of them. I have listened to many recordings of the Tchaikovsky concerto (Shaham, Bell, Heifetz, and others) and seen it live a couple times, but no performance I have heard tops this one.

It must be said that the sound engineering is not the best. There is some light hissing noise throughout and the audience is quite loud (not to mention that it claps after the first movement of the concerto). However, the musicianship that shines through all this noise is simply astounding. If I could choose one word, it would be "gritty." Perlman's unique, intense sound is perfect for this piece. His amazing vibrato is warm in the 2nd movement and thrilling in the fast sections. His articulation in the virtuosic passages sounds like machine-gun fire, incredibly accurate and clean. His glides tenderly caress the music, particularly in the initial statement of the first movement and throughout the second movement. He is showy, but never self-indulgent, tender, but never sappy. I cannot say enough good things about this performance. The orchestra under Mehta is always excellent as well, although the recording does not always flatter it. Regardless of the recording deficiencies, though, in my experience, this is THE definitive Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto recording.

As for the Tartini and the encores, I have not heard as many recordings of them, but they also are excellent. Perlman's technical fireworks in the Tartini and the Bazzini are simply astounding. The Wieniawski and Prokoviev are excellent as well. The Bloch, Kreisler, and Tchaikovsky Andante Cantabile are all gorgeous. The pianist also is very good, and he and Perlman make an excellent team.

In summary, this is, in my opinion, a must-have CD. Whether you are a violin enthusiast, classical music connoisseur, or even a newcomer, you cannot go wrong buying this CD. --- John Robert Swedberg, amazon.com

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