80251-2

Price: £14.99

Beethoven Romance in F
First release of 1995 recording
Pinkas Zukerman
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Zubin Mehta

“Beethoven’s F major Romance is inflated to Brahmsian dimensions by a plushly upholstered accompaniment from what sounds like a full-strength London Philharmonic … (Gramophone January 2016)

The sharp contours of Berg’s Concerto are rounded off by Zukerman, with Mehta an observant and willing accomplice; so too the Sony engineers, who tuck the more Expressionist details away … it often rewards a balance struck between Romantically inclined soloist and incisive conductor, and provides the model of a beating heart within a glinting suit of armour. The second disc has more to offer. Brahms is in the room again, this time not as uninvited guest but welcome host to recital works with a charm as unaffected as Zukerman’s portamento. The central section of Robert Fuchs’s Op 82 No 1 is unthinkable without the examples of Brahms’s vocal and instrumental Regenlieder, and if the remaining Fantasiestücke of this selection are hardly less indebted to the master’s Hungarian dances, especially in the harmony they are written from the inside out, never a moment too long, and caught on the wing here not only by Zukerman’s unfailing cantabile but also by Marc Neikrug’s alertly sprung accompaniments. The 24-year-old Joachim had met Brahms for the first time only two years before writing these Hebrew Melodies, which sing with a personal if rather unrelieved contralto. Zukerman and his viola are placed further from the microphones than his violin in the Fuchs, but uses the space to advantage No 2 is in C minor, marked Grave, but a true Nigun in all but name!

Track list:

CD1
[1] Beethoven: Romance in F, op.50                                       9:51
Alban Berg Violin Concerto (1935)
[2] Andante (Prelude) – Allegretto (Scherzo)                           11:13
[3] Allegro (Cadenza) – Adagio (Chorale Variations)                14:57
Pinchas Zukerman, violin/ London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
CD2
Robert Fuchs: Nine Fantasy Pieces
[1] Etwas Langsam, sehr innig, op.74, no.2 (D major)                2:03
[2] Leidenschaftlich, aber nicht rasch, op.82, no.1 (C minor)     7:51
[3] Langsam, wehmütig, op.74, no.9 (G minor)                           3:15
[4] Leicht bewegt, op.74, no.6 (E minor)                                     2:59
[5] Andante, quasi Allegretto, op.40, no.3 (G minor)                   2:48
[6] Allegro Scherzoso ma non troppo, op.40, no.2 (B-flat major) 2:23
[7] Ziemlich langsam, träumerisch, op.74. no.1 (B minor)          3:10
[8] Langsam, schwebend, op.74, no.7 (C major)                         2:58
[9] Kräftig und entschloßen, op.82, no.5 (D minor)                     3:14
Joseph Joachim Hebrew Melodies, op.9
[10] Sostenuto (G minor)                                                             4:41
[11] Grave (C minor)                                                                    7:56
[12] Andante cantabile (F major)                                                 9:39
Pinchas Zukerman (viola)

Marc Neikrug, piano

Companies, etc.

  • Copyright (c) – Biddulph Recordings – 2015
  • Phonographic Copyright (p) – Sony Music Entertainment – 2015

Credits

  • Conductor – Zubin Mehta (tracks: 1-1 – 1-3)
  • Engineer – James Nichols (tracks: 2-1 – 2-9), Kevin Boutote (tracks: 2-10 – 2-12), Tony Faulkner (tracks: 1-1 – 1-3)
  • Executive Producer – Eric Wen
  • Liner Notes – Douglas Jarman
  • Mastered By – Tom Lazarus
  • Orchestra – The London Philharmonic Orchestra (tracks: 1-1 – 1-3)
  • Piano – Marc Neikrug (tracks: 2-1 – 2-12)
  • Producer – Philip Traugott
  • Viola – Pinchas Zukerman (Viola) (tracks: 2-10 – 2-12)
  • Violin – Pinchas Zukerman (tracks: 1-1 – 2-9)

Barcode: 744718025121