Niccolo Paganini – Violin Concertos No. 1 & 2 (Ashkenasi) [1969]

01. Violin Concerto n.1 in E flat Op. 6 - Allegro Maestoso
02. Violin Concerto n.1 in E flat Op. 6 - Adagio
03. Violin Concerto n.1 in E flat Op. 6 - Allegro Spiritoso
04. Violin Concerto n.2 in B minor, op. 7 - Allegro Maestoso
05. Violin Concerto n.2 in B minor, op. 7 - Adagio
06. Violin Concerto n.2 in B minor, op. 7 - Allegro Spirituoso
(Rondo - La Campanella)

Shmuel Ashkenasi - violin
Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Heribert Esser – conductor

I actually had this record when I was 16. I mean I had the vynil LP and twenty years later I am so thankful this recording is still available, of course I bought the CD and still listen in awe after all this time. Ashkenasi plays with incredible tone, beauty, and indeed effortless technique. I would like to point out is that Mr. Ashkenasi plays his own cadenzas in both concertos which makes this CD worthwhile, for that reason combined with a low price should make this CD irresistible.

In the book in his book "Great Masters of the Violin" written by Boris Schwartz, (a great russian violinist) Mr Ashkenasi is decribed as having "...lovely tone and perfect intonation." His training included the great Zimbalist, no wonder his technique is so convincing here.

I own many copies of these recordings and perhaps the only way I can explain why I like this recording so much is to compare it to all the others I have heard. I own the recordings of Perlman, Shaham, Markov, Gitlis, Accardo, Rabin, Kogan, Kaler, Menuhin, and Grumiaux. Only Grumiaux made a recording of equal value in my opinion. "La Campanella" from the second violin concerto is my favorite melody ever written. For the second concerto I own recordings by Markov, Gitlis, Accardo, and Kaler. To me, Ashkenasi has no peers for this concerto but Markov came close.

I own all these recordings but when I want to listen to these masterpieces, I reach for Ashkenasi. ---Scott68, amazon.com

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