Some say it's violinist Andrew Manze's tone that makes him distinctive, that there's a sweetness to his non-vibrato swells and a strength to his flexible bowing that make his playing so attractive. Some say it's Manze's phrasing that makes him distinctive, that there's a lyrical quality to his line and a molded quality to his dynamics that make his playing so appealing. Some say it's Manze's interpretation that makes him so distinctive, that there's a combination of fantasy, intensity, and effortless virtuosity that make his performances so persuasive. Some say it's all these things at once and this 2006 disc of the last three of Mozart's five violin concertos is the proof.
Experiencing the Australian Chamber Orchestra and their leader Richard Tognetti in concert has been described in The Times as 'like taking a swig of a vitamin drink'. This is the first of two discs on BIS of Mozart's violin concertos. Contributing to this is the fact that the strings (both soloist and orchestra) play on gut strings, while the wind players perform on replicas of instruments from Mozart's time.
The renowned artists, violinist Jascha Heifetz and cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, joined forces in 1949 at Chicago's Ravinia Festival. Twelve years later, and now good friends, both artists were in semi-retirement from the concert stage, yet enjoyed their evenings of chamber music with friends. Here they conceived The Heifetz-Piatigorsky Concerts as a way to share their love of chamber music with the public. They aimed to present repertoire not often heard in concert and then record them. The Heifetz-Piatigorsky Concerts continued for several years, with a series of performances in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York that included a range of distinguished guest artists. The last of these concerts was in 1974 when Heifetz ended his performing career.
The renowned artists, violinist Jascha Heifetz and cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, joined forces in 1949 at Chicago's Ravinia Festival. Twelve years later, and now good friends, both artists were in semi-retirement from the concert stage, yet enjoyed their evenings of chamber music with friends. This first ever complete collection of The Heifetz-Piatigorsky Concerts includes Dvorak's Piano Quintet No. 2 and Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence. The 21 CDs are packaged in mini-sleeves with the original album artwork and feature a new introduction by Heifetz expert John Maltese.
With his sweet, subtly varied tone, lightly brushed bowing and imaginative phrasing, Kuusisto is vividly reponsive to the dancing playfulness of the Allegros and that uniquely Mozartian mixture of innocence and sensuous yearning in the slow movements. Tempi are fleet and buoyant yet never driven. (…) These performances, zestfully accompanied and warmly recorded, capture the poetry, excitement and coltish energy of these miraculous fruits of Mozart's teen years.