20 Great Violinists

• Booklet languages: English
• Time: 75:23
• Release Date: 2006

Review

This delightful recording delivers exactly what's promised -- samples of the artistry of 20 violinists from what many call classical music's golden age. Recording dates range from 1917 to 1953 (not 1955 as is stated on the back cover), with most from between the 1920s and the 1940s. The music mostly consists of short encore-type pieces, many of which were forgotten as the fun of classical music was pushed aside by tight-lipped modernists and sterile pedagogy. Indeed, the biggest surprise for the modern listener here will be the distinctive personalities evinced by the individual players. Hearing this program, one can understand how listeners of two or three generations back could recognize Fritz Kreisler's rich tones as readily as fans of pop singers today can identify their voices. Yet the other "voices" here are also recognizable in their own ways. Hear the piercing lyricism of the comparatively lesser-known Albert Spalding (track 3), for example, the infectious rhythmic swing of Joseph Szigeti (track 8), or the commanding control of the young Nathan Milstein (track 11). For many buyers the attraction will be the chance to sample the work of violinists like Erica Morini or Argentine-born Ricardo Odnoposoff, generally available only in collector realms; the program gives a great little portrait of the depth of talent that existed 75 years ago. The presentation and remastering of material from a great variety of sound sources has been very nicely done, and the booklet gives a necessarily brief but highly readable introduction to each of the 20 violinists. For the general listener, one could hardly imagine a better introduction to just why it is that some people collect classical 78 rpm records. ~ James Manheim, Rovi

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
Fritz Kreisler	Caprice Viennois, for violin & piano (or orchestra), Op. 2	3:34
Niccolò Paganini	Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor ("La campanella"), Op. 7, MS 48 (3. La Campanella)	4:36
Gaspar Cassadó	Danse du diable vert, for cello & piano	3:13
Riccardo Drigo	Valse Bluette	2:09
Frantisek Drdla	Souvenir, for violin & piano, in D major	3:37
Francesco Geminiani	Work(s) (Sonata in C minor for violin & continuo. Siciliano)	3:44
Johannes Brahms	Hungarian Dance for piano, 4 hands, in G minor, WoO 1/5	2:17
Antonin Dvorák	Humoresque No. 7 for piano in G flat major, B. 187/7 (Op. 101/7)	3:13
Grigoras Dinicu	Hora staccato, for violin & piano (or orchestra)	2:06
Fritz Kreisler	Liebesleid (Love's Sorrow), for violin & piano	3:00
Josef Suk	Pieces (4) for violin & piano, Op. 17 (4. Burleska)	2:36
Pablo de Sarasate	Fantasy on Gounod's "Faust," for violin & orchestra (or piano), Op. 13	2:28
Béla Bartók	Romanian Folk Dances (6) (Román népi táncok), for piano, Sz. 56, BB 68	5:38
Ottokar Novacek	Perpetuum Mobile, conzert caprice for violin & orchestra, Op. 5/4	2:38
Ferdinand Ries	La Capricciosa for violin & piano	2:32
Maurice Ravel	Tzigane, rhapsodie de concert, for violin & piano (or orchestra)	8:55
Manuel de Falla	Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40 (4. Jota)	2:58
Ludwig van Beethoven	Sonata for violin & piano No. 9 in A major ("Kreutzer"), Op. 47 (3. Finale, presto)	8:49
Henryk Wieniawski	Scherzo-tarantelle, for violin & piano in G minor, Op. 16	4:15
Niccolò Paganini	Moto perpetuo, for violin & guitar (or orchestra) in C major, Op. 11, MS 72	3:05

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