Sunday 17 April 2011

I have always been a loyal follower of Isabelle Faust. Her new recording of Brahms' violin concerto is honourable, but nothing more. Most of the problem lies with the (recorded) ghosts of Kreisler, Oistrakh, Milstein, Heifetz, de Vito, Kogan, et al. The orchestra here is the "Mahler Chamber Orchestra" and that's a problem, coupled with Faust's light touch in much of the violin part. This is Brahms Lite, and the Brahms violin concerto is not a feminine, whimsical piece. And, Ms Faust: Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace is not Italian for "go hell-for-leather" in the finale. Look it up. The adagio comes off best.

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