Joshua Bell - Prokofiev & Shostakovich: Violin Concertos (2006)
Artist: Joshua Bell
Title: Prokofiev & Shostakovich: Violin Concertos
Year Of Release: 2006
Label: Decca
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (tracks)
Total Time: 02:17:01
Total Size: 656 Mb
WebSite: Album Preview
Tracklist: Title: Prokofiev & Shostakovich: Violin Concertos
Year Of Release: 2006
Label: Decca
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (tracks)
Total Time: 02:17:01
Total Size: 656 Mb
WebSite: Album Preview
CD 1
1. Prokofiev: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.1 in F minor, Op.80 - 1. Andante assai
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
2. Prokofiev: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.1 in F minor, Op.80 - 2. Allegro brusco
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
3. Prokofiev: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.1 in F minor, Op.80 - 3. Andante
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
4. Prokofiev: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.1 in F minor, Op.80 - 4. Allegrissimo
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
5. Prokofiev: 5 Mélodies, Op.35bis - 1. Andante
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
6. Prokofiev: 5 Mélodies, Op.35bis - 2. Lento, ma non troppo - Poco più mosso - Tempo I
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
7. Prokofiev: 5 Mélodies, Op.35bis - 3. Animato, ma non allegro - Poco più tranquillo - Meno mosso
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
8. Prokofiev: 5 Mélodies, Op.35bis - 4. Allegretto leggero e scherzando
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
9. Prokofiev: 5 Mélodies, Op.35bis - 5. Andante non troppo - Pochissimo più animato
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
10. Prokofiev: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.2 in D, Op.94b - 1. Moderato
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
11. Prokofiev: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.2 in D, Op.94b - 2. Scherzo (Presto)
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
12. Prokofiev: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.2 in D, Op.94b - 3. Andante
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
13. Prokofiev: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.2 in D, Op.94b - 4. Allegro con brio
by Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen
CD 2
1. Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.1 in D, Op.19 - 1. Andantino
by Joshua Bell & Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal & Charles Dutoit
2. Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.1 in D, Op.19 - 2. Scherzo. Vivacissimo
by Joshua Bell & Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal & Charles Dutoit
3. Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.1 in D, Op.19 - 3. Moderato
by Joshua Bell & Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal & Charles Dutoit
4. Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.63 - 1. Allegro moderato
by Joshua Bell & Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal & Charles Dutoit
5. Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.63 - 2. Andante assai
by Joshua Bell & Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal & Charles Dutoit
6. Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.63 - 3. Allegro, ben marcato
by Joshua Bell & Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal & Charles Dutoit
7. Shostakovich: Piano Trio No.2, Op.67 - 1. Andante - Moderato - Poco più mosso
by Olli Mustonen & Joshua Bell & Steven Isserlis
8. Shostakovich: Piano Trio No.2, Op.67 - 2. Allegro con brio
by Olli Mustonen & Joshua Bell & Steven Isserlis
9. Shostakovich: Piano Trio No.2, Op.67 - 3. Largo
by Olli Mustonen & Joshua Bell & Steven Isserlis
10. Shostakovich: Piano Trio No.2, Op.67 - 4. Allegretto - Adagio
by Olli Mustonen & Joshua Bell & Steven Isserlis
The hype machine wants us to love the stars it promotes, which has a backlash effect. I'm not sure many serious listeners would rank Joshua Bell as a first-class musician, given his glamorous popular image. But he's up to everything Prokofiev throws at the soloist in his two violin concertos and two sonatas. This bargain two-fer can stand up to any rival, including Oistrakh and Perlman. I'm only sorry I overlooked it for so long.
Because Bell and his Strad produce an exceptionally sweet, refined tone, you might not think he can carry off some of Prokofiev's prickly writing, especially in the first sonata. And it's true that the second sonata, adapted from an original for flute, exhibits a lyric quality that suits him better. But Bell is willing to make a few ugly sounds and spiky attacks as called for. What carries the day is an innate sense of phrasing and a musicality that any rival would envy. He's also helped by Decca's excellent sound (better here than on the original releases) and Dutoit's accompaniments -- Prokofiev is one of Dutoit's stronger composers.
As a bonus we get the Shostakovich Trio no. 2, a masterpiece that has been receiving dozens of recordings since Russia opened in 1989. The pianist is the fierce Finn, Olli Mustonen, who also serves as Bell's partner in the sonatas. Together with English cellist Steven Isserlis, they give a sleek but powerful performance. It's not as hectic as Argerich's recent account on EMI or as soulful in the Jewish music of the finale as Ax-Stern-Ma, but this one definitely belongs near the top.
The recording dates are 1993 (concertos), 1995 (sonatas), and 1997 (trio), which means that the earliest recordings were made when Bell was 26. I think he's gotten a bit too refined since then, but if you want Prokofiev with the music's elegant side favored, these are highly recommended. Sometimes swooning is good.
Because Bell and his Strad produce an exceptionally sweet, refined tone, you might not think he can carry off some of Prokofiev's prickly writing, especially in the first sonata. And it's true that the second sonata, adapted from an original for flute, exhibits a lyric quality that suits him better. But Bell is willing to make a few ugly sounds and spiky attacks as called for. What carries the day is an innate sense of phrasing and a musicality that any rival would envy. He's also helped by Decca's excellent sound (better here than on the original releases) and Dutoit's accompaniments -- Prokofiev is one of Dutoit's stronger composers.
As a bonus we get the Shostakovich Trio no. 2, a masterpiece that has been receiving dozens of recordings since Russia opened in 1989. The pianist is the fierce Finn, Olli Mustonen, who also serves as Bell's partner in the sonatas. Together with English cellist Steven Isserlis, they give a sleek but powerful performance. It's not as hectic as Argerich's recent account on EMI or as soulful in the Jewish music of the finale as Ax-Stern-Ma, but this one definitely belongs near the top.
The recording dates are 1993 (concertos), 1995 (sonatas), and 1997 (trio), which means that the earliest recordings were made when Bell was 26. I think he's gotten a bit too refined since then, but if you want Prokofiev with the music's elegant side favored, these are highly recommended. Sometimes swooning is good.
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