Brahms VC

[Harry Collier]

Oh, come on, Harry. You know it's not difficult to separate the truly gifted musician from the merely hyped. All you have to do is listen to the artist.

So why are we all talking about Hilary Hahn, rather than Akiko Suwanai? Or Anne-Sophie Mutter rather than Janine Jansen? To name but a few. There is hordes of talent out there, but few are heard of. It has, of course, always been thus. But let us not kid ourselves that the reason we have all heard of X, but few have heard of why, is just a question of talent. Is not one of the greatest recorded performances of the Beethoven violin concerto that by Igor Bezrodny? Who? (Actually, yes it is. But more people have heard of Isaac Stern, or Andre Rieu, than of Igor).

[MishaK]

So why are we all talking about Hilary Hahn, rather than Akiko Suwanai? Or Anne-Sophie Mutter rather than Janine Jansen? To name but a few. There is hordes of talent out there, but few are heard of. It has, of course, always been thus. But let us not kid ourselves that the reason we have all heard of X, but few have heard of why, is just a question of talent. Is not one of the greatest recorded performances of the Beethoven violin concerto that by Igor Bezrodny? Who? (Actually, yes it is. But more people have heard of Isaac Stern, or Andre Rieu, than of Igor).

Come on. It's not all a conspiracy. Some of these excel in certain repertoire but fall short in others. Janine Jansen is not exactly underpublicized. But she's young and has only now started really touring. She has only two discs to her name both of which have been very well received. I don't doubt that we will be talking about her for quite a while. Rieu appeals to a different crowd entirely. He should not be mentioned in this forum at all. Every one of the chicks in his ensemble plays the violin better than he does.

[Rabin_Fan]

Janine Jansen is not exactly underpublicized. But she's young and has only now started really touring. She has only two discs to her name both of which have been very well received. I don't doubt that we will be talking about her for quite a while.

O-Mensch - There are 3 Jansen CDs. The 1st lollipops debut CD with the 4 Seasons and the Bruch 1/Mend VC plus Bruch Romance (a must buy for lovers of excellent playing and fine orch sounds - one of the very best modern Bruch/Mend
VC couplings).  R-F

[MishaK]

O-Mensch - There are 3 Jansen CDs. The 1st lollipops debut CD with the 4 Seasons and the Bruch 1/Mend VC plus Bruch Romance (a must buy for lovers of excellent playing and fine orch sounds - one of the very best modern Bruch/Mend
VC couplings).  R-F

You just listed two:

1. the Vivaldi
2. The Mendelssohn/Bruch

I was aware of these (both of them are from the last two years or so). What's the third?

[Harry Collier]

I was aware of these (both of them are from the last two years or so). What's the third?

I don't think there is a third one, yet. However, watch out for Liza Ferschtman, yet another young Dutch female violinist who is really something with a violin under her chin. Her Beethoven / Schubert CD has just been released (Challenge Classics).

[Rabin_Fan]

JANSEN JANINE Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Saint-Saens, John Williams, Vaughan Williams. Decca 4750112

Search www.mdt.co.uk

A new DVD as well:-
SCHEHERAZADE An Oriental Night with the Berliner Philharmoniker. Works by Grieg, Rimsky-Korsakow, Nielsen, Saint Saens, Massenet. Janine Jansen, Marita Solberg, Ingebjorg Kosmo, Berliner Philharmoniker / Neeme Jarvi. Euroarts DVD NTSC 2055318

[longears]

I have many recordings of this work, and several of which I return to often. But the one I like very much (most?) is one that hardly anyone ever mentions, namely, Kennedy/Tenstedt. It is a slower than usual performance, especially the first two movements, but works beautifully. After this one, the second movement of other recordings just don't seem to have the same effect on me.

Milstein is the other one I like the most.

Must agree, Paul, with Kennedy/Tennstedt.  I know it's unfashionable to like Kennedy, but in this--as in the Bach ctos--I like the music making in spite of my prejudices.