Lang Lang's LvB PC #1 and 4

[mahlertitan]

Dragon Songs is quite good.

[Harry Collier]

Kavakos' skills, however, have managed to "calcify", over the years. Or at least that was my impression when I heard him live a few months ago. He will, however, be playing the Sibelius with Gergiev and the LSO, this season. So perhaps I'll get to directly compare the "present" Kavakos to the artist he was when he recorded the piece, 15 or so years ago...

I have Kavakos recordings (mainly off-air) from 1987 to 2007. And I don't think he is calcified at all! Still an extremely good violinst, and musician. I last heard him "live" about 18 months ago.

[mahlertitan]

Lang Lang's explanation (at the very end of this video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nx0cfjJPHU

[Drasko]

Kavakos' skills, however, have managed to "calcify", over the years. Or at least that was my impression when I heard him live a few months ago. He will, however, be playing the Sibelius with Gergiev and the LSO, this season. So perhaps I'll get to directly compare the "present" Kavakos to the artist he was when he recorded the piece, 15 or so years ago...

Heard Kavakos live some three months ago and haven't noticed any calcification but what I did notice was one of the most stunning recitals this year. Ysaye 3rd was spellbinding, it sounded as if he pulled it in a single breath, even more flowing than on BIS studio recording and it was in between two huuge and equally impressive sonatas with Nagy (Busoni's 2nd and Bartok 1st).

[Renfield]

Heard Kavakos live some three months ago and haven't noticed any calcification but what I did notice was one of the most stunning recitals this year. Ysaye 3rd was spellbinding, it sounded as if he pulled it in a single breath, even more flowing than on BIS studio recording and it was in between two huuge and equally impressive sonatas with Nagy (Busoni's 2nd and Bartok 1st).

Then he must have been in below average form, when I heard him. Perhaps the stress of playing before the Athens audience (Greek as he is) had something to do with it, or perhaps the Schumann (which I heard him play) isn't his "forte"...

As I said, I'm going to be attending his performance of the Sibelius concerto, this season; and possibly twice in a row, as I'm keen on extensively sampling Gergiev's Mahler (comprising the rest of the program on the two occasions, with the 4th and 1st symphonies, respectively), anyway. So I should have two separate occasions to make up my mind from, on the "current" Kavakos.

[Rabin_Fan]

I saw Kavakos here in Malaysia over 4 concerts - always amazing - first up was the Brahms VC, then Beethoven VC and then Bruch Scottish Fantasy (the next week he played stuff like Havanaise, Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso, Gypsy Airs, La Campanella and also Ernst Hungarian Airs (with orchestra (MPO) with some orchestral interludes in between). Astounding - every time I saw him.