Product description BELL JOSHUA .com Joshua Bell has returned to the mainstream repertoire from his recent successful excursions into film (The Red Violin) and bluegrass-crossover (Short Trip Home), and his playing, always brilliant, and arresting, has reached a new peak. Despite the booklet's claim to the contrary, these two concertos have nothing in common except fiendishly difficult bravura solo parts; rather, they represent a perfectly valid pairing of opposites. Bell makes the most of the contrasts, bringing out each work's idiomatic character. The Sibelius, from the eerily icy opening to the exuberant ending, is heavy, rugged, austere, majestic, expansive, with grand, intense climaxes. The Goldmark has a Hungarian flavor with its romantic, melancholy lyricism, poetic, almost religious inwardness, charm, and vitality. Bell's effortless virtuosity is unlimited but entirely unobtrusive; his intonation is perfect, the passage-work crystal clear. He seems incapable of producing a bad sound, even in double and triple stops; his tone is ravishingly beautiful, radiant as golden sunshine, warm as dark velvet. Best of all, he makes music: every note is expressive, everything has shape and direction; the playing is always noble, honestly felt, and without excess or exaggeration. --Edith Eisler
A**R
LACK OF SOMETHING ON MY PART
Due to, I'm sure, a lack of musical sophistication on my part, I've never really had much of an appreciation for Sibelius's violin Concerto. I have always loved many works by Jean (mainly his symphonies) just not his Violin Concerto which, in the past, has failed to move me in any way. I must put a fine point on the aforesaid. I have indeed heard some live performances of the Sibelius violin Concerto that I have been "moved" by; however, the recordings that I've heard have left me rather "cold" until this recording with Bell and Salonen. They deliver it wonderfully! Bell plays the outer fast movements with breathtaking virtuosity and the slow one with great feeling; the melodies really flow in a beautiful arch of sound. To me, Bell's tone is gorgeous Salonen is a most sensitive accompanist always keeping his forces under great control and never allowing them to drown out the soloist as I have heard in other recordings. I feel that one of the main reasons I enjoyed this recording of the Sibelius so much is the recording itself--the balance along with the sound is marvelous.The Goldmark concerto is played wonderfully too. Bell again delivers its many melodies wonderfully and again the balance of the recording added to my enjoyment.If you like romantic violin concertos, you can't get any better than this--two great artist (Bell and Salonen at the height of their powers.
C**K
GORGEOUS GOLDMARK!
I thoroughly enjoy and recommend this CD. I add my comments because I think a good reason for buying this CD is the Goldmark violin concerto. While I think that Joshua Bell, Esa-Pekka Salonen and the LA Phil do a very good job on the Sibelius Violin Concerto, I think they do a great job with the Goldmark. I think Goldmark is under-appreciated these days. (Who performs the Violin Concerto or the Rustic Wedding Symphony nowadays?) The 2nd andante movement of the Goldmark particularly stands out here. It is played with sensitivity and very poetically. Do you like the solo violin to be played like a singing voice, or like a rasp? if you like the violin to sing, get this. Mr. Bell can be counted on for a strong, controlled, sweet tone. I don't mind a nice tone on the Sibelius and I think it is even more welcome and appropriate on the Goldmark This CD is an enjoyable listen from beginning to end.
J**M
Technically accurate
Not as much emotion some other performers, but some of those are over done. Not my favorite version.
J**N
BEST PERFORMANCE OF SIBELIOUS' VIOLIN CONCERTOS !!!
The 1st violin concerto is known for exquisite, lush solo sections requiring demanding technical skills and advanced interpretive talent....Joshua Bell brings these elements together with real maturity and energy......best version I've heard!
F**G
Joshua Bell
Joshua Bell. What more can anyone say. I have several of his CDs and I love them Sibelius is not one of my favorites. Joshua Bell plays wonderfully, I just did not care for Sibelius.
D**E
Exceptional quality.
I was careful ti use my AKG studio headphones for the first listen and I was very impressed with the recording quality. Flawless. As usual, Joshua Bell is as brilliant as always regardless if you are at a live performance or simply listening to a CD. Worth twice the price.
A**R
Excellent recording by an outstanading artist.
Excellent recording by an outstanading artist. After hearing Joshua Bell perform this live we just had to get the recording. It will be played many times. The Goldmark concerto is a nice bonus.
J**K
Good to hear Goldmark
Although I perfer Leila Josfewicz's Sibelius over Bell's the reason for purchasing this CD is to hear the Goldmark. What a breathtaking concerto the Goldmark is. The solo melody in the introduction of the concerto could not be more beautiful and lyrical. The Sibelius was solid, but the Goldmark really stirs me because the orchestration is so superb on its own. Goldmark was a composer of superior technique and his concerto should and is being played more widely.
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