Philippe Quint -Violin, Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria, Carlos Miguel Prieto - Conductor
Korngold: Violin concerto in D Major / Overure to a Drama / Much Ado About Nothing (Concert Suite)
Grammy Nominee 2010 - Best Instrumental Soloist Performance
Wholenote Discoveries - September 2009
Erich Wolfgang Korngold is now chiefly remembered for his outstanding Hollywood movie scores of the late 1930s and early 1940s, but 20 years earlier he had been an established and much-admired young prodigy in Europe, even managing to impress Mahler with his music when only 9 years old. His return to a completely changed European concert scene after the Second World War failed to repeat his earlier successes, however, and he died, scarcely remembered, in 1957. His Violin Concerto, though, has never left the repertoire, probably because it so successfully combines both of Korngold's musical worlds. Written in 1945 at the behest of Bronislaw Huberman and premiered by Heifetz in 1947, it is a rich and tuneful late-Romantic work, at times strongly reminiscent of the Barber concerto, with the main themes in all three movements taken from the composer's own film scores. Philippe Quint is, as usual, in wonderful form in a warm and beautifully recorded performance. If you don't yet know his brilliant playing, then take advantage of the great Naxos price to discover it now! Two early orchestral works complete the CD. Overture to a Drama, from 1911, was the first work the 14-year-old Korngold orchestrated on his own; the influence of Mahler is clearly apparent. The Much Ado About Nothing Suite dates from 1918, and is perhaps better-known in the arrangement the composer made for violin and piano, also available on Naxos. Terry Robbins
American Violinist Philippe Quint shows his mettle in this rollicking release from Naxos. Erich Korngold was a talented prodigy who went on to compose film scores in Hollywood, as well as music of the classical genre. His Violin Cencerto is one of the masterpieces of the repertoire with lush sounds and beautiful orchestral moments. Quint is certainly up to the task as the concerto is played quite well. The other works on this disc are very interesting, especially the Much Ado About Nothing concert suite. This unjustly forgotten incidental music for the play is indeed a gem of orchestral music. At Naxos' budget price, this disc is something for Korngold and Violin fans alike!
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Price: $19.98