Julia Fischer vs Janine Jansen

[Herman]

There's been some discussion of both violinists here recently. Not having seen either in concert for a couple of years I tried to refresh my memory of what they are like in concert via youtube.

In my opinion Fischer's Mozart Cto nr 4 is impeccable: vivacious, warm and clean as a fiddle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWIgqczwIH4

Janine Jansen is not a musician I would immediately associate with Mozart, but it turns out there's a Cto nr 5 from the 2006 Proms (with Ashkenazy conducting in an inscrutable fashion)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QlyMNMLlfI&feature=related

Here the vivaciousness has crossed over into crudeness IMO. Maybe Mozart is not Jansen's thing, so I checked for another concert. The Mendelssohn cto from the 2005 Proms is perhaps even worse. Maybe due to Norrington's crisp conducting it's even clearer how smeared Jansen's playing is. (We'll not mention her embarrassing habit of airsitting; amazing no one has been able yet to talk her out of this.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn6zirTSGL8

Last step in this survey is Fischer's Brahms with a somnolent Michael Tilson Thomas conducting. The first mvt is wonderful. Somehow the slow movement falls apart for me, not just due to MTT's seeming lack of interest, but Fischer's phrasing sounds uninspired from the start.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DQdjXkPta0

So how do these ctos sound to you guys?

[hornteacher]

I take your point, but to me its like comparing two flavors of ice cream: both offer good things that differ from each other, but you tend to enjoy what you are in the mood for.

Personally, I prefer Jansen in Baroque music better.  Her Vivaldi CD is my absolute favorite version of the Seasons and Her Bach Inventions CD is good as well.  Fischer I tend to prefer on the Mozart Concertos and also the Tchaikovsky.  However, I haven't heard these performed live by either JJ or JF so I'm basing my opinions on CD performances.

No offense to either Jansen or Fischer but for me the best Mendelssohn is Hahn's 2002 recording on Sony.  In short, there are a lot of good violinists out there, and I think personal preference tends to play more of a role in what one likes.

[nut-job]

Sorry, Hahn is old news now.   

[hornteacher]

Sorry, Hahn is old news now.   

Yeah, she's turning 30................OVER THE HILL. 

[haydnguy]

I have Mutter's Mendelssohn with Karajan and much prefer Hahn's version. (Mutter was younger at the time, I'm pretty sure). Would be interested to hear her new recording of the Mendelssohn. (Not enough to buy another version though) 

[hornteacher]

I have Mutter's Mendelssohn with Karajan and much prefer Hahn's version. (Mutter was younger at the time, I'm pretty sure). Would be interested to hear her new recording of the Mendelssohn. (Not enough to buy another version though) 

Unfortunately I caved and purchased the ASM CD/DVD.  Like most things ASM puts out lately, its full of excessive vibrato and the performance is a little emotionally flat for my taste.  On the up side the concert footage is is great visually and the coupling of the Piano Trio is excellent.

[Lethevich]

Personally, I prefer Jansen in Baroque music better. [...] Her Bach Inventions CD is good [...]

This one impressed me too, although I have hardly heard many alternatives...