Rozsa : Violin Concerto, Op. 24; Cello Concerto, Op. 32; Theme and Variations for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra, Op. 29a
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List Price:
$17.98
Hungary Hotels Travel Price: $17.98
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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Telarc
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0089408051821
Label: Telarc
Manufacturer: Telarc
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Telarc
Release Date: 2000-02-22
Studio: Telarc
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Editorial Reviews:
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Like other European composers of his generation, Miklós Rósza, born in Hungary in 1907, found political and creative sanctuary in Hollywood, where he wrote concert music and many notable film scores. These three works clearly show that he never lost his roots in his native folk music. The violin concerto, a lush, romantic piece, was written at the urging of Jascha Heifetz and is tailored to his and his instrument's strengths, with singing, soaring melodies, brilliant passage work, and a very effective cadenza. Later, Heifetz and cellist Gregor Piatigorsky asked Rósza to write a piece for them; the "Theme and Variations" is the slow movement of a longer work. It is beautifully written for both instruments; based on a Hungarian melody, the variations are wonderfully inventive and varied in mood, character, and expression. The Cello Concerto too is extremely difficult and virtuosic, often quite wild and aggressive, and full of contrasts. The orchestration is excellent throughout, but not too heavy. The performances could not be better: McDuffie and Harrell surmount all the formidable technical challenges easily, their tone shimmers and glows, and their heartfelt but always refined expressiveness brings out the best in these unjustly neglected works. --Edith Eisler
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Simply superb!!
Comment: Like a good many others no doubt, I grew up listening to Heifetz' legendary performance of the violin concerto and was so satisfied that I couldn't imagine anyone else doing it better or even as well - and the two or three I heard try, reinforced that point of view. - Then late one night I heard an extraordinary performance of it on the radio, and guess what? - this was it!
And even more perplexing, the violinist on this disc, Robert McDuffie, was unknown to me. How about that? (as Mel Allen had a wont to say) - an unknown came out of nowhere, as it were, and delivered a performance that made me want to stand up and cheer! He wasn't Heifetz, of course, but he sure as hell had the measure of this piece and in his own way, provides a musical experience of equal value.
- And let me add that I DID hear Heifetz LIVE play the Rozsa "Theme and Variations", many years ago with Piatigorsky, but as I remember to no greater effect than McDuffie and Harrell give it here. - And although I am less familiar with the cello concerto, I doubt you'll hear this wonderful piece done any better than on this disc.
Finally, I must confess that I am definitely no great fan of either Yoel Levi and his Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, other than astonishment at their ability in the past to manipulate the Grammy Awards judges into showering them with mostly undeserved prizes.
However, having said all that, here they come up trumps - HONESTLY! The orchestra play magnificently, and as is usually the case, Telarc records them in an equally magnificent manner. This disc may have just preceded their current, glorious SACDs, but Telarc, led by their leader Robert Woods, had even then learned how to record an entire orchestra, with solo instruments, and with bass notes unsacrificed, with astonishing fidelity. They certainly do themselves proud.
GET THIS DISC - IT'S A MUST BUY!
Customer Rating:
Summary: "Private Life of Sherlock Holmes"; the wait is over
Comment: I love Rozsa's violin concerto. There was a period in my life when the first movement was my best friend, if a recording can be such a thing.
As Rozsa fans know, Billy Wilder asked Rozsa to utilize the violin concerto as the foundation of the film score of "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes" (1970). Last month, a mere 37 years later, a re-recording of this film score (over 70 minutes, incl. bonus tracks) was released on CD by Tadlow Music, performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. It seems to be available by mail order only.
I'm taking the liberty of mentioning the film-score recording in this concerto thread because it may be good news to those who love the original concerto. Certainly it gives the listener a way to experience the violin concerto in a whole different way; familiar themes veer off in different directions, or are mixed with never-before-heard melodies, or put to unexpected uses (the opening of the last movement coincides with the appearance of the Loch Ness monster!).
Customer Rating:
Summary: A sentimental favorite
Comment: I found this CD after a long search, and I was absolutely ecstatic to finally find it. This was one of the earliest classical recordings I ever purchased (my collection has since grown considerably), and it's probably the one I love the best--although I confess that I don't just love it for its beauty, but because the first two pieces of the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra--the Allegro and Lento cantabile--were used in Billy Wilder's 1971 film, "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes," one of my favorite movies(I would love to find an entire score of the film). Actually, reading Sherlock Holmes stories made me curious about classical music!
That said, I was very impressed by Mr. McDuffie's performance, and I'm considering buying other recordings where he is the principle artist. As for Rosza, his music takes my breath away and is just simply a lot of fun.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very fine performances of Rozsa's great concertos!
Comment: This is a tremendously beautiful violin concerto. It has endless lyrical melody, intense rhythm, bold orchestration, structural integration, and drama. This is the 3rd recording of the work, and I think this is the finest. Robert Mcduffie is a world top class violinist. His sweet and sensual tone matches the bitter-sweetness of the work very well. You may discover multi-facet of Rozsa's masterpiece through Mcduffie's brilliant interpretation of the work. The playing of ASO under Levi's direction is first rate. Harrell's reading of Rozsa's dark, inner Cello Concerto is more strong and concerntrated than those of Smith on Koch, Rejto on Silva. Especially the driving urgency of the outer movements of the work is expressed by soloist and orchestra very well. Theme and Variations is the second movement of masterful Sinfonia Concertante(good performance from Gruppmann and Boch with NZSO conducted by Sedares, coupled with great Viola Concerto, on Koch). Recorded sound is very clean and clear. Strongly recommended.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointing, in comparison with Rozsa's movie themes
Comment: Miklos Rozsa's violin-driven love theme for El Cid is so beautifully expressive it has the power to whirl me emotionally into the world of 11th century Spain, and nostalgically to the early 1960s when I first saw the movie in a grand old theater in Miami. Imagine my joy in discovering that a Concerto for Violin composed by Rozsa is now available! Alas, it lacks the expressive power of Rozsa's film score. It simply fails to establish and sustain a captivating melody. I think Rozsa's best music was written for the movies, and recommend The Epic Film Music of Miklos Rozsa. This CD includes both the El Cid overture and love theme, as well as selections from Ben-Hur.
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