Beethoven: Violin Concerto (CD review)

Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin; Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. DG 477 7165.

A few days before this rerelease arrived, a friend and I were discussing how quickly record companies and the public tend to forget past recording stars.  In particular, we were talking about the conducting icons of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, people like Solti, Bernstein, and Karajan. Then the Beethoven Violin Concerto from Karajan and his young protégé at the time, Anne-Sophie Mutter, showed up, with a note from DG saying it is but one in a reissue of several dozen Karajan recordings they're re-releasing.  So much for studios not caring.

DG originally released this one in 1979, Ms. Mutter's second recording. It is quite good. It is also a bit different in that it is quite slow. The booklet insert tells us that the slow basic tempi were her own choices and not forced upon her by Karajan. Fair enough. But given that Karajan was always prone to slowing down the tempo, providing a little more glamour in the process, and that Karajan had a direct influence on Ms. Mutter's career, I would think that maybe, just maybe, the conductor had some hand in the decision. In any case, the performance is lovely, not unlike my own favorite recording from a few years earlier with Szeryng, Haitink, and the Concertgebouw on Philips. Mutter's interpretation is graceful and elegant, if a tad lax compared to say, Heifetz. Still, it's most beautiful, if not for a first recommendation, certainly for an adjunct reference.

DG's sound is typical of the era--full and warm--and in its new remastering it sounds more dynamic than ever, with excellent punch throughout. But the midrange, as smooth as it is, is a bit murky and foggy, not quite as revealing as it could be. A quick comparison to the aforementioned Szeryng/Philips recording demonstrates what is lacking here. Nevertheless, the soft acoustic tends to flatter Ms. Mutter's reading, both sounding lush and leisurely. I'm glad I got to hear the disc again.

One last thing: This new mid-price reissue comes in a Digipak. Usually, I hate Digipaks. I mean, if you break one of the plastic center spines, what do you do? You've can't just replace the jewel box. But in this case, the Digipak duplicates the artwork of the original LP, and with its glossy cover, it looks really nice. And to carry the theme further, the disc itself is silk-screened to look like a miniature LP. So I can live with the Digipak in exchange for the package's appearance.

JJP