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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
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Whilst agreeing with every word of the previous reviewer, including the 5 star rating, there are perhaps one or two things any propspective purchaser may need to know. These recordings were originally issued as single full priced Cds by Claves records, I believe, between 1991 and 1994. The soloist is Alexandre Dubach thoughout, and the orchestra is the Monte Carlo Philharmonic.
Concertos 1 and 4 are conducted by Michel Sasson, and the rest by Lawrence Foster, (What a pity Sasson hadn't been used throughout), and the sound is very good but variable from disc to disc.
The performances of Nos. 1 and 4 are easily the highlight of the set. I'm not sure whether this is mainly due to these two being probably the best of Paganini's six existing concertos, the fact that they get the best recorded sound, or to Sasson's superb orchestral contribution. Probably a combination of all three.
The chemistry between Sasson and Dubach is phenomenal, delivering easily the best performances I've ever heard. The two strike sparks off one another in what I can only describe as the cheekiest and most outrageous performances on disc, (listen to the third mvt. of No.4 if you don't believe me). The set is worth its modest price for this disc alone. The orchestra literally have to play second fiddle to the soloist in any of Paganini's works, but nobody seems to have told Sasson this. His witty and tongue firmly in cheek contribution is infectious to say the least, and Dubach raises the bar himself to match it. Terrific stuff.
The remaining concertos are very well done, (although no performance by anyone is ever likely to make more than a curiosity out of the boring No. 6 which was actually written first I believe), but Foster is not quite a match for Sasson with his more conventional approach to the orchestral accompaniment and slightly duller sound.
Buy this for the best performances possible of Paganini's finest two concertos and treat the rest as a very substantial bonus. You'll love it.
Concertos 1 and 4 are conducted by Michel Sasson, and the rest by Lawrence Foster, (What a pity Sasson hadn't been used throughout), and the sound is very good but variable from disc to disc.
The performances of Nos. 1 and 4 are easily the highlight of the set. I'm not sure whether this is mainly due to these two being probably the best of Paganini's six existing concertos, the fact that they get the best recorded sound, or to Sasson's superb orchestral contribution. Probably a combination of all three.
The chemistry between Sasson and Dubach is phenomenal, delivering easily the best performances I've ever heard. The two strike sparks off one another in what I can only describe as the cheekiest and most outrageous performances on disc, (listen to the third mvt. of No.4 if you don't believe me). The set is worth its modest price for this disc alone. The orchestra literally have to play second fiddle to the soloist in any of Paganini's works, but nobody seems to have told Sasson this. His witty and tongue firmly in cheek contribution is infectious to say the least, and Dubach raises the bar himself to match it. Terrific stuff.
The remaining concertos are very well done, (although no performance by anyone is ever likely to make more than a curiosity out of the boring No. 6 which was actually written first I believe), but Foster is not quite a match for Sasson with his more conventional approach to the orchestral accompaniment and slightly duller sound.
Buy this for the best performances possible of Paganini's finest two concertos and treat the rest as a very substantial bonus. You'll love it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Excellent service and excellent production. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to it as did the members of my Music Circle.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Of course the music is not new, but it and the performers were, to me. Paganini was possibly the greatest violinist of all time, and was widely admired by his contemporaries, but apart from a few pieces (e.g. his theme, which forms the basis of variation by himself, Brahms, Rachmaninov, ...) his music is little known today. This bargain pair of discs should do much to remedy that situation. The playing is clean and very competant, especially considering the technical difficulties of the music, and the concertos are interesting in themselves. Try it - it may become a favourite.
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