Stern – Lalo ˑ Saint-Saens ˑ Chausson - A Life In Music

CD1
Symphone Espagnole, Op 21 	Edouard Lalo - 	33:06
01 	1. Allegro Non Troppo 	08:00
02 	2. Scherzando. Allegro Molto 	04:25
03 	3. Intermezzo. Allegretto Non Troppo 	06:33
04 	4. Andante 	06:46
05 	5. Rondo. Allegro   	07:22
Violin Concerto No. 3 in Bm, Op 61 	Camille Saint-Saëns - 	29:41
06 	1. Allegro Non Troppo 	09:27
07 	2. Andantino Quasi Allegretto 	09:14
08 	3. Molto Moderato E Maestoso 	11:00

CD2
01 	Zigeunerweisen, Op.20 	Pablo Sarasate - 08:02
02 	Carmen-Fantasie 	Franz Waxman - 07:44
03 	Introduction Et Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28 	Camille Saint-Saëns - 08:55
04 	Berceuse, Op.16 	Gabriel Fauré - 	03:33
05 	Poeme, Op.25 	Ernest Chausson - 17:50
06 	La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin 	Claude Debussy - 02:38
07 	Claire De Lune 	Claude Debussy - 04:51
08 	Tzigane 	Maurice Ravel - 08:55

Isaac Stern – violin
Philadelphia Orchestra,  Orchestre de Paris,  Orchestra,  Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy,  Daniel Barenboim,  Franz Waxman,  Frank Brieff,  Milton Katims – conductor

Volume 8 of the "Isaac Stern: A Life in Music" series finds the great violinist tackling a variety of French Orchestral Works. The first CD of this two-disc set begins with Lalo's "Symphonie Espagnole," 1967 performance with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Stern previously recorded the Lalo with Ormandy in 1956 (that version appears on "The Early Concerto Recordings, Volume 2" -- see my review), and this '67 rendition is taken at a slightly slower tempo, but is equally enjoyable. Disc one concludes with an average account of Saint-Saens' 3rd Violin Concerto with Daniel Barenboim and the Orchestre de Paris from 1976.

Disc two is where I really have problems with this collection. The second CD features shorter works for violin and orchestra, including some "encore" pieces, all performed excellently. I should know because I've heard half of them on other CDs previously! The very same recordings featured in this title (Volume 8) of Saraste's "Zigeunerweisen," Saint-Saens' "Introduction et Rodno Capriccioso," and Ravel's "Tzigane" have already been available (and continue to be) on Isaac Stern's "Early Concerto Recordings" volumes. This redundancy is not an isolated incident as it has happened with other titles in the "Life in Music" series. I suppose duplication is unavoidable for serious collectors, but it is nonetheless annoying. As I have said before -- Sony, there must have been a better way! --- Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA)

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