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Naxos

Szymanowski: Violin Concertos No 1 & 2, Nocturne and Tarantella / Kaler, Wit, Warsaw PO

$19.99 Only 1 left

Details

Composer
SZYMANOWSKI, KAROL
Artist
Wit, Kaler
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Apr 24, 2007
Catalog #
8557981
UPC
747313298129

About



Magic on a budget: Szymanowski's fantasy world is beautifully caught

Naxos offers an exceptionally clear recording of these three concertante works by Szymanowski, not just the two Violin Concertos but an orchestrated version of the Nocturne and Tarantella. Ilya Kaler, as on his other Naxos discs, gives pure, clear readings with flawless intonation and careful use of vibrato. Having a Polish conductor and orchestra as his accompanists adds to the idiomatic feel of each, with the magical orchestral sounds beautifully conjured up, particularly in No 1, the more radical of the two works.

Like Kaler, Thomas Zehetmair plays with flawlesss intonation in a wonderfully pure reading, using minimal vibrato. Kaler is a degree warmer with a shade more vibrato, and the Naxos recording brings out the fantasy of the composer’s orchestration, particularly in No 1, with wonderful clarity. Lydia Mordkovitch is warmer still, playing with hushed intensity in the gentle passages and relishing the pure beauty of the passages of writing above the stave. In the more openly lyrical Second Concerto, Mordkovitch makes the Andantino deeply reflective at a very measured pace, while the others adopt more flowing speeds with lighter results.

Kaler then plays the relatively brief Nocturne and Tarantella just as sympathetically, with the Tarantella a flamboyant virtuoso vehicle making a splendid climax to an excellent disc. The point which trumps all competition inevitably is that the Naxos issue, beautifully and idiomatically played and brilliantly recorded, comes at such a reasonable price.

-- Edward Greenfield, Gramophone [7/2007]

Tracklist 11 tracks

  1. 1 Vivace assai - 06:12
    Track
    1
    Title
    Vivace assai -
    Duration
    06:12
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ilya Kaler
    Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  2. 2 Tempo comodo - Andantino - 05:59
    Track
    2
    Title
    Tempo comodo - Andantino -
    Duration
    05:59
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ilya Kaler
    Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  3. 3 Vivace scherzando - 01:29
    Track
    3
    Title
    Vivace scherzando -
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ilya Kaler
    Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  4. 4 Poco meno - Allegretto - 06:53
    Track
    4
    Title
    Poco meno - Allegretto -
    Duration
    06:53
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ilya Kaler
    Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  5. 5 Vivace (Tempo I) 05:36
    Track
    5
    Title
    Vivace (Tempo I)
    Duration
    05:36
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ilya Kaler
    Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  6. 6 Moderato - Molto tranquillo - 06:12
    Track
    6
    Title
    Moderato - Molto tranquillo -
    Duration
    06:12
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ilya Kaler
    Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  7. 7 Andantino sostenuto - 06:34
    Track
    7
    Title
    Andantino sostenuto -
    Duration
    06:34
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ilya Kaler
    Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  8. 8 Allegramente - Molto energico - 04:01
    Track
    8
    Title
    Allegramente - Molto energico -
    Duration
    04:01
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ilya Kaler
    Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  9. 9 Andantino - Molto tranquillo 05:25
    Track
    9
    Title
    Andantino - Molto tranquillo
    Duration
    05:25
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ilya Kaler
    Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  10. 10 Nocturne: Lento assai 05:49
    Track
    10
    Title
    Nocturne: Lento assai
    Duration
    05:49
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ilya Kaler
    Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  11. 11 Tarantella: Presto appassionato 06:02
    Track
    11
    Title
    Tarantella: Presto appassionato
    Duration
    06:02
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ilya Kaler
    Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit