Aram Khachaturian; Camille Saint-Saëns; Ernest Chausson - Works for violin & orchestra (Leonid Kogan; David Oistrakh)

Information

Composer: Aram Khachaturian; Camille Saint-Saëns; Ernest Chausson

1. Khachaturian - Violin Concerto in D minor: I. Allegro con fermezza
2. Khachaturian - Violin Concerto in D minor: II. Andante sostenuto
3. Khachaturian - Violin Concerto in D minor: III. Allegro vivace
4. Saint-Saëns - Havanaise, Op. 83: I. Allegretto e lusinghiero
5. Saint-Saëns - Havanaise, Op. 83: II. Allegro
6. Saint-Saëns - Havanaise, Op. 83: III. Allegro, ma non troppo
7. Chausson - Poème, Op. 25
8. Saint-Saëns - Introduction & Rondo capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28: Andante
9. Saint-Saëns - Introduction & Rondo capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28: Allegro, ma non troppo
10. Saint-Saëns - Introduction & Rondo capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28: Più Allegro

(1-6) Leonid Kogan, violin
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Pierre Monteux, conductor

(7-10) David Oistrakh, violin
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Charles Münch, conductor

Recording Dates: 1958 (1-6), 1955 (7-10)
Label: RCA

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Reviews

'... This was made two days after Leonid Kogan's American debut and reminds us what a superb artist he was. The first movement gets a flowing, glittering performance with the violin perfectly balanced with the orchestra. This is a slightly more atmospheric sound balance than on the Prokofiev and probably owes much to the spacious acoustic of Symphony Hall in Boston. The slow movement manages to maintain the surface sheen of the rest yet also be searching and lyrical. Kogan seems completely at home with the whole piece, standing him in good stead for the energetic and tuneful last movement. This was the first time Pierre Monteux had conducted this work which was by a composer with whom he was not usually associated. You would never know. If you don't know this work, or own a recording of it, this is a fine opportunity to acquire it now.'

-- Tony Duggan, MusicWeb International
reviewing RCA Victor Living Stereo 0902663708 2, couple with Prokofiev's "Alexander Nevsky" by Fritz Reiner

---------------------------------

'... feature the great virtuoso David Oistrakh, and the disc is worth having for these 20-plus minutes alone. Munch was one of Heifetz's few regular collaborators on disc, and Oistrakh's more gentle temperament must have meshed well with the maestro. On evidence here, it was a successful partnership. Both works feature incredible, warm playing from everyone involved. You'll love it. Buy this with confidence.'

-- Brian Wigman © 2014, Classical Net
reviewing RCA Gold Seal 09026-60683-2, couple with Chausson's "Symphony in B flat major, Op. 20" by Charles Münch

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Aram Khachaturian (6 June 1903 – 1 May 1978) was a Soviet Armenian composer and conductor. He is considered one of the leading Soviet composers and the most renowned Armenian composer of the 20th century. Khachaturian is best known for his ballet music—Gayane (1942) and Spartacus (1954). His most popular piece, the "Sabre Dance" from Gayane, has been used extensively in popular culture and has been covered by a number of musicians worldwide. His music combined Armenian, Caucasian, Eastern Europe and Middle East folk music with established musical traditions of Russia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aram_Khachaturian

***

Camille Saint-Saëns (9 October 1835 – 16 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist. Saint-Saëns was a musical prodigy, making his concert debut at the age of ten. He was a successful freelance pianist and composer, in demand in Europe and the Americas. His best-known works include his concertos, his 3rd symphony, Danse macabre and The Carnival of the Animals. Saint-Saëns was enthusiastic for the most modern music of the day, although his own compositions were generally within a conventional classical tradition. Saint-Saëns' students included Gabriel Fauré.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns

***

Ernest Chausson (20 January 1855 – 10 June 1899) was a French romantic composer who died just as his career was beginning to flourish. He studied with Jules Massenet at the Paris Conservatoire, and  also with César Franck, with whom he formed a close friendship that lasted until Franck's death in 1890. Dying by a bizarre bicycle accident at the age of 44, Chausson left behind only 39 opus-numbered pieces. The quality and originality of his compositions are consistently high, and several of his works continue to make occasional appearances on programs of leading singers, chamber music ensembles and orchestras.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Chausson

***

Leonid Kogan (November 14, 1924 – December 17, 1982) was a preeminent Soviet violinist during the 20th century. He is considered to have been one of the greatest representatives of the Soviet School of violin playing. However, Kogan's career was always overshadowed by that of David Oistrakh, who was strongly promoted by the Soviet authorities. Kogan was the first Soviet violinist to play and record Berg's Violin concerto, and also also made a famous recording of Khachaturian's violin concerto. He used two Guarneri del Gesù violins: the 1726 ex-Colin and the 1733 ex-Burmester.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Kogan

***

David Oistrakh (September 30 [O.S. September 17] 1908 – October 24, 1974) was a renowned Soviet classical violinist. He is considered one of the preeminent violinists of the 20th century. Oistrakh collaborated with major orchestras and musicians from many parts of the world, including the Soviet Union, Europe, and the United States, and was the dedicatee of numerous violin works, including both of Dmitri Shostakovich's violin concerti, and the violin concerto by Aram Khachaturian.. Oistrakh's playing was not so much marked by brilliance, but by richness, lyricism, roundness of tone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Oistrakh

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!