Having a bit of a Julia Fischer season at the moment. Polished off the two Brahms concerti again, then embarked on the Tchaikovsky disc. Next up will be the trio of Russian concertos, then I'll have another go at the Bach solo sonatas and partitas (that did not impress me too much first time round). Miss Fischer is pretty remarkable; cool, poised, classical, controlled. Reminds me often of Nathan Milstein. She is not an impulsive player, nor does she wear her heart on her sleeve. But when the music demands agitation, she agitates. She is due to play the Elgar concerto (in Poole and Reading) next year, and I shall certainly try to make a pilgrimage to hear her. Enjoying her playing is greatly aided by the superb Pentatone engineering of the CDs – very well balanced, to boot.
Personal journal dealing mainly with music listened to, plus various food and wine matters. Rants at a few favourite topics.
Harry Collier
2 comments:
You mentioned the fine engineering by PentaTone. Have you listened to these discs as multi-channel SACDs? The rear channels are recorded to capture the reflections from the side and rear walls and on playback leave on with the distinct impression of having been transported to the concert hall. It is a remarkable and wonderful experience which makes me more and more intolerant of mere stereo anymore. As for Fischer, well, anyone with an ear knows she will surely be ranked among the greatest violinists of all time! Get back to that Bach and listen with fresh unbiased ears!
" ... she will surely be ranked among the greatest violinists of all time!"
Well, quite a bit of competition for that label, and I'm not sure Ms Fischer has the personality, charisma and distinctiveness to fill that role, extremely fine violinist though she may be. As for her unaccompanied Bach; it reminded me of the 1950s recordings by Johanna Martzy: exemplary but, in the end, a bit unimaginative and "Germanic". I am still smitten with the new Lara St.John offering for these works.
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