Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto - the right way

[Ciel_Rouge]

I am considering different recordings of this piece - a piece that I have come to be intrigued with through YT. However, most of the ones I have sampled on YT have either the orchestra or the soloist "infected" with some kind of retardation, making it sound either "tired" or "fake". For me however Tchaikovsky is a blend of violence and dark undertones so characteristic for the Russian classical but also with an added flavour of joy and playfulness. Could you possibly recommend any recordings in this regard?

[Brian]

I'm not sure I can think of recordings which really capture "Russian darkness" in this work - except of course the mournful slow movement. But I'd strongly advise you to seek out the thrilling recordings by Jascha Heifetz and Vadim Gluzman, and most especially a live traversal by Leonid Kogan. You also should listen to David Oistrakh's live Russian Serenade melancolique, which will REALLY appeal to you - nearly tear-inducing.

 

 

My personal favorite recordings of the Concerto are Kogan, for his humongous, sweet, jaw-dropping violin sound and the live-performance excitement, and Gluzman, who plays the violin for which the concerto was written (Auer's), although I only discovered that while writing this post. Gluzman plays like an old-fashioned romantic; his performance sounds like it ought to be in mono and have lots of scratches and pops, but it's in modern sound - too good to be true, except it's true. Fast and furious, but swooningly romantic and fully engaged with the emotion of every note. Actually that describes all three of these recordings, and "emotionally engaged" vastly understates Oistrakh's Serenade. I need to hear Oistrakh play the Concerto.

EDIT: For the Violin Concerto, I also have or have heard recordings by Julia Fischer, Ilya Kaler, Emmy Verhey, Pavel Sporcl, Heifetz/Reiner, Vadim Repin, Ivry Gitlis, and Gil Shaham. Most are not too memorable, though Heifetz/Reiner is loved by many and Gitlis is pretty darn good. Julia Fischer's recording is very, very charming. Though I enjoy Ilya Kaler's, it's rather bland compared to Gluzman, Fischer and Kogan and you would definitely feel it to be "the wrong way."

[Renfield]

For me however Tchaikovsky is a blend of violence and dark undertones so characteristic for the Russian classical but also with an added flavour of joy and playfulness. Could you possibly recommend any recordings in this regard?

Absolutely.




"Take one of these and call me in the morning."


Alternatively, I second David Oistrakh, in a number of different versions, among which the two below are my favourite:






Edit: Of the Oistrakhs, though, I think the latter fits your specification more than the former, which (IIRC) is not quite as 'dark'.

[Brian]

   

....MUST....HAVE....!!!!!

[ccar]

I am considering different recordings of this piece - a piece that I have come to be intrigued with through YT. However, most of the ones I have sampled on YT have either the orchestra or the soloist "infected" with some kind of retardation, making it sound either "tired" or "fake".

We'll always discover at least as many wonderful readings of the Tchaikovsky VC as the violinists we may fancy. And because most of them recorded the piece multiple times - from "King" Oistrakh at least 13 versions have emerged - it requires some courage to pick one or two from the pile.
I certainly go with you that many performers will play the notes (many most perfectly) but without "injecting" that magic that breaths life into the music. But it will be even more difficult to choose if you ask for "the right way" to play it. So, I will take your question provocatively - I won't give you any of the traditional "great recordings of the century" recommendations but I'll suggest a reading of the Tchaikovsky VC that many will most probably consider too free, unorthodox or even the "wrong way".
But you may be sure of one thing - there won't be any signs of retardation or tiredness in it.

Carlos

 

[Herman]

I am considering different recordings of this piece - a piece that I have come to be intrigued with through YT. However, most of the ones I have sampled on YT have either the orchestra or the soloist "infected" with some kind of retardation, making it sound either "tired" or "fake". For me however Tchaikovsky is a blend of violence and dark undertones so characteristic for the Russian classical but also with an added flavour of joy and playfulness. Could you possibly recommend any recordings in this regard?

Many of Tchaikovsky's contemporaries did not consider him as a really "Russian" composer. Too Westernized, especially too Frenchy.

Two composers that had a tremendous influence on Tchaikovksy were Bizet (Carmen) and Delibes (Coppelia). Both embodied for Tchaikovsky the "joli" which could be translated as pretty, or attractive, and also your "playfulness".

There's some pretty dark stuff in Tchaikovsky's output, such as Pique Dame, Onegin, Swan Lake and the 6th symphony. However I would have a rather hard time putting the Violin Cto in that category. To me it's primarily a very nice and exciting concerto, intended to be hugely succesful, for the performer and the composer. I wouldn't even call the slow mvt "mournful," just a quiet and intense song with some pastoral characteristics.

[Sergeant Rock]

I agree with Herman. I don't hear "violence and dark undertones" in the Violin Concerto. In fact, quite the opposite. I'm reminded that film compoer Bill Conti stole the first movement's big tune to underscore moments of success and triumph in The Right Stuff. My own favorite version, powerful, intense and moving but never maudlin or kitschy is Boris Belkin's with Ashkenazy conducting.

Sarge

[MichaelRabin]

Leonid Kogan with Silvestri on EMI Encore. A wonderful bargain. The 1958 sound is much better than what you think engineers can produce in that year. A classic! Definitive version.

[MichaelRabin]

I can't stand the Huberman - it is some rhythmically unsteady. Pliant - too pliant - this Huberman rhythm. If you need expressive & pliant for that sort of vintage, try Heifetz in 1937.

[Renfield]

I can't stand the Huberman - it is some rhythmically unsteady. Pliant - too pliant - this Huberman rhythm. If you need expressive & pliant for that sort of vintage, try Heifetz in 1937.

Interesting!

I actually find the pliability of his rhythm to reinforce the effect of his playing, given how judicious he is about his tempo. More so,  I'd be tempted to call the Huberman the best-paced version I've heard. I don't remember the Heifetz much, but I do remember preferring the later version with Reiner. (Though not for the sort of aesthetic the OP wants.)

[Drasko]

I don't remember the Heifetz much, but I do remember preferring the later version with Reiner. (Though not for the sort of aesthetic the OP wants.)

I prefer earlier Heifetz with Barbirolli by a wide margin, the later one with Reiner struck me as too fast and stiff in comparison.

[Renfield]

I prefer earlier Heifetz with Barbirolli by a wide margin, the later one with Reiner struck me as too fast and stiff in comparison.

And it is, that's why I like it when I'm in the mood for something more 'rigorous'. In general, it feels more consistent a reading than the Barbirolli. (Though I'm tempted to give the latter another shot, since we're discussing it.)

[MichaelRabin]

I am with Drasko, if you want to compare pre-1940 versions. It is more Romantic than the Reiner version. Don't get me wrong - the Reiner contains fantastic violin playng but it sounds like Heifetz passes the fiddler assault course with flying colours. For a truly epic Russian version, the Kogan-Silvestri is "non pareil". Have you guys tried it? It is absolute awesome and I am comparing with Heifetz, Oistrakh, Milstein, Repin, etc, etc

[Renfield]

For a truly epic Russian version, the Kogan-Silvestri is "non pareil". Have you guys tried it? It is absolute awesome and I am comparing with Heifetz, Oistrakh, Milstein, Repin, etc, etc

Nope; but I've put it in my mental shopping basket!

Re Heifetz/Barbirolli, I think what I find slightly off-putting in it is the kind of 'wallowing' in Heifetz' phrasing. I don't at all mind Romantic excess: it's the specific effect he's going for that registers as less well-defined than I'd like.

He seems to linger just a little too much, ending up a little bit all over the place, in terms of melodic line. For lack of a more elegant term, early Heifetz splurges embellishment too readily for me to prefer his reading over Huberman's. By comparison, Huberman also wallows, but he wallows in a 'tighter' manner - if that makes any sense!

So when I go for a Romantic reading, I go for Huberman; and when I want the opposite, I go for Heifetz/Reiner.

[Brian]

I am with Drasko, if you want to compare pre-1940 versions. It is more Romantic than the Reiner version. Don't get me wrong - the Reiner contains fantastic violin playng but it sounds like Heifetz passes the fiddler assault course with flying colours. For a truly epic Russian version, the Kogan-Silvestri is "non pareil". Have you guys tried it? It is absolute awesome and I am comparing with Heifetz, Oistrakh, Milstein, Repin, etc, etc

I haven't heard Kogan/Silvestri, but if it is at all like the live Kogan performance in the Brilliant Classics box, it will be stunning!

[ccar]

I haven't heard Kogan/Silvestri, but if it is at all like the live Kogan performance in the Brilliant Classics box, it will be stunning!

I have 3 versions of the Tchaik VC by Leonid Kogan - 1950 with Nebolsin (Revelation/Brilliant),  1956 with Vandernoot (Testament/EMI France) and 1959 with Silvestri (EMI, various). The 1959 is indeed a great performance with stereo detailed sound, wonderful phrasing and tone and a very good orchestral part. But for me I am (still) very much impressed by the unique spontaneity and panache of the first version, with Nebolsin. 

Carlos           

[Bogey]

   

Lock thread!

[Que]

I see all my favourites are mentioned  : Huberman/ Steinberg & Kogan/Silvestri. I also prefer Heifetz/Barbirolli by a very wide margin to Heifetz/Reiner.

Interesting mention of Kogan/Nebolsin - I guess that would mean getting the Kogan box on Brilliant?

Q

[val]

My absolute favorite: Heifetz/Reiner. The second movement is "magic", with such a lyricism not very usual in Heifetz.

[MichaelRabin]

We can equate Heifetz/Barbirolli = Kogan/Nebolsin roughly ==> more
Romantic treatment of the VC in these 2 giants' younger playing days. But my favourite is still the Kogan/Silvestri. A really jaw-dropping performance that makes me drop everything I am doing and listen astounded. For the price of an EMI Encore, you should not be stingy and think twice about collecting this version. You won't regret it at all.