Now this is the way to re-launch a violinist: a two-disc set of Beethoven's two most virtuosic works for violin -- the concerto and the "Kreutzer" Sonata -- performed with two of the finest accompanists in the world -- the Wiener Philharmoniker under Riccardo Muti in the concerto and Martha Argerich in the sonata. Still, young Russian violinist Vadim Repin has a clutch of first-class recordings for Erato to his credit, including terrific couplings of Shostakovich and Prokofiev's concertos. But he had previously stayed away ...
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Now this is the way to re-launch a violinist: a two-disc set of Beethoven's two most virtuosic works for violin -- the concerto and the "Kreutzer" Sonata -- performed with two of the finest accompanists in the world -- the Wiener Philharmoniker under Riccardo Muti in the concerto and Martha Argerich in the sonata. Still, young Russian violinist Vadim Repin has a clutch of first-class recordings for Erato to his credit, including terrific couplings of Shostakovich and Prokofiev's concertos. But he had previously stayed away from recording these two core repertoire works.Until now, that is. And it was totally worth the wait. Repin's clear intonation, sweet tone, and brilliant technique prove ideally appropriate for Beethoven's music. His concerto is quintessentially lyrical in execution, with intensely expressive but wonderfully graceful legato lines running through in all three movements. His sonata, on the other hand, is fabulously virtuosic with a searing opening Presto, a silken central Andante, and...
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