OK, this time I'm asking for recommendations. I've had the Grumiaux set for a long time, and it's good, but its a bit to suave and smooth for me. I also got the Hugget set, and I like it better, but it's just not quite right for me, somethings missing in it that I can't put my finger on. Please recommend me a good set. Also, I'm NOT interested in Perlman or Mutter in this music, I've heard them and they are not what I'm looking for. Thanks

How about David Oistrakh?

I have Pamela Frank doing all of them with Zinman. Here is a link if you want to check it out:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...ce&s=classical

I like it quite a bit. The playing is crisp and the sound is excellent. And for the price its definitely worth a try.

MJ

Thanks for the suggestions so far. The Oistrakh is a bit too "old school" sounding for me (I've heard it before), but the Pamela Frank rec seems like it might be right up my alley. I've put it on order from Amazon, looking forward to getting it?

Any other recs?

I own Standage/Hogwood/Academy of Ancient Music a very lively performance.
And Menuhin/Bath Festival Orchestra, more centered in violin, more romantic.
I prefer Hogwood.

Well, this is a tough one, because what I have of the violin concertos is on vinyl and probably out of print! It's one of the holes in my cd collection that I have been shopping to fill, so I'm very glad there's a thread on this.

Now, of the vinyl that I have, probably the Jascha Heifetz recordings are most likely to have been reissued in some form or another. Unfortunately, just about all of my vinyl is in storage because we are getting a new cabinetry unit for the wall to accomodate all of the new audio equipment, but to the best of my memory I had the Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola and also one of his recordings of the Concerto in D and also a recording (not Heifetz but a strange bargain pickup with no one famous) of the Eminor violin concerto that didn't sound too good. I also have a Metropolitan Museum of Art recording of Sonya Monosoff (I think?) and Malcolm Bilson playing the Sonatas on the museum's stradivarius and its Schmidt fortepiano. That was a unique recording also, but I doubt it's still in print.

If you want HIP Mozart, then what about the Hogwood AAM recording? I've just ordered it at Amazon for about $13.00 for 2 cds.

Also, have you considered Isaac Stern's recording of the concertos?

Oh! While on sale, I picked up the EMI Classics boxed set of Menuhin, The Violinist which has the Mozart Sinfonia for Violin and Viola as well. I haven't listened, but it's probably old school as well.

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That's what i own. I don't like the style of violin concertos but 'romantic style' it's something i like with the Sinfonia for violin and viola (concertante). I think this is one of the most 'romantic' and 'personal' works of Mozart.

The Hogwood just might fill the bill. I'm putting it on order. Along with the Frank, and the Zehetmair, and the Zimmerman set. I think between these, plus the Hugget set, and the Grumiaux sets that I already have, I'll be doing OK for Mozart Violin concertos.

I like my Mozart VCs HIP style....therefore Hugget/Virgin and Standage/Hogwood/Lyre are in collection.
I had the Grumiaux and old Menuhin sets but in comparison thier style sounds too romantic/sweet vs the lighter more clarified tones of the HIP versions.......and eventually I sold them long ago.

Got the Frank in the other day, and I like it. However I'm not blown away by it, there is a bit of coldness to the playing, she sounds not as involved as she should be. For now my preference remains with Huggett, but I'm still waiting on the other sets to show up....

OK, here's the latest rundown on all the versions I currently have:

Grumiaux - Plays with the needed charisma and intensity, but much too romantic of an interpretation, almost sounds like beethoven.

Huggett - Period performance, better rhythms and overall interpretation, but the harpsichord is too prominent and is bothersome to me.

Zehetmair - HIP performance on modern instruments. Pretty good, the orchestral accompaniment is very nice. But Zehetmair simply doesn't have the charisma to carry these works, he's just too self effacing.

Pamela Frank - Very good set, it grew on me quite a bit over time. With Zinman conducting, you know it will be close to HIP, and with a good sounding orchestra of appropriate size. Frank is much better than Zehetmair, and this is almost my reference.

Tetzlaff - The reference set for me. Orchestra is very, very good. Modern instruments but with HIP sensibility. Tetzlaff is very intense, strong charisma, he just owns this music. Get it if you can.

I have the Standage and am very happy with them! The Tetzlaff is tempting, though (ouch too much alliteration).

Edit: also Iona Brown and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

Another Mozart Violin Concerto album hot off the press!!



Given the rather negative press here of Mutter's new album (whose cover picture I cannot stand), I would think Manze is preferrable. Anyone else heard this?

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I bought this week his performance of the violin sonatas (Harmonia Mundi Mozart Edition) and given that I liked Manze previous works about Mozart (and Biber, Handel, Vivaldi, etc), especially his Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, this is one disc I must buy.
Thanks for the information.

i bought the james ehnes set a couple weeks ago at the local towers store a couple weeks ago even though amazon has the released date as this tuesday, 2/7. anyways, ive always thought he was underappreciated for some unknown reason. ive been to a couple of his live performances and found his playing to be very musical and technically sound without the pretentiousness one may find in bell and mutter, imho. im a big fan of hilary hahns and find their styles quite similiar. the recording is everything i expected...pure mozart with an immaculate violin tone and without the interferene of the soloists ego.