The Elgar Violin Concerto

I recently splurged on the Elgar Violin Concerto. It is in a handsome CD with Vaughn Williams' Lark Ascending as its companion. The virtuoso being tested is Hilary Hahn and, of course, the playing is first rate. This is for Deutsche Grammophon, a copmany that insists on putting out recordings of the highest caliber. Incorrigibles. In any event, there is a small problem with the CD, but it is a little hard to explain. It's not Hilary's fault, nor DG, nor even the fault of the LSO or Sir Colin Davis. Impeccable (without sin).

Sadly, the fault lies with Elgar. More accurately, with his concerto. I just don't like it. It doesn't sound good to me. Perhaps with time...?

I haven't listened to the Vaughn Williams yet - that's how pressed for time I've been.

Of course, I have also found that a while back I bought a couple of CDs and one of them was left unopened: Jascha Heifetz playing William Walton's Violin Concerto and the Elgar again. This is a Naxos disc. They also put out excellent work and you can't fault Heifetz. I'll have to give it a listen and, who knows, maybe I'll like it.

Sadly, though I think Naxos is the best thing to happen to classical music in a great long while, their space at my local Borders has shrunk dramatically. I asked about this a week ago and the clerk shrugged. It's not just Naxos - the entire classical section shrank. And, get this, Josh Groban singing Christmas carols took up most of the space. No joke. I checked the label in back of one of the Cds - 195 copies. Ah well.

The IPO Concert

Tuned in just in time for the opening of the Brahms Piano Concerto #1, Mehta conducting, Barenboim on the piano. I will probably be way off base with what I say, but I had the feeling at times that the playing a a little on the lethargic side. This may be because I'm used to recordings where the pace set by the soloist borders on the frenetic. I will say that I took notice of a neat little fugal interlude in the finale for the first time.

Generally, I tend not to appreciate Brahms' piano music as much as I do his symphonies, overtures and the violin concerto. A few of the solo pieces attract me, but not really the concertos. Not sure why. There seems to be a thumping quality to them that just doesn't do anything for me. Delicate passages get buried. It's a pity. Brahms is one of the finer composers. Barenboim's slightly slower pace has allowed me to appreciate this concerto a bit more. I suppose for that, I should thank him.

Anyone have his address?