Following on the heels of DG's fine release of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with violinist Vadim Repin, Riccardo Muti, and the Vienna Philharmonic came this EMI issue with Nigel Kennedy playing the violin and leading the Polish Chamber Orchestra. Both discs are recommendable in their own way.Whereas the Repin performance is rather big-boned and old-fashioned, the Kennedy interpretation is somewhat leaner and marginally more dynamic. I can't say which reading I enjoyed more. Kennedy is the more extreme, as we might expect from this often flamboyant source. He takes the first movement very quickly, infusing it with a good deal of energy and enthusiasm. I recall that he recorded the Beethoven once before, in the early Nineties, and it had a rather slack first movement. No such thing here. However, as a complete contrast, he takes the second movement Larghetto more slowly than I can ever remember it done. His manner is not exactly languid, though, and many listeners will find it lovely. Be that as it may, it's hard to find any reservations about the final movement, which is as joyous and bouncy as any you'll hear.
As companion pieces, Kennedy chose Mozart's Fourth Violin Concerto, which he does up in fine form, the booklet notes telling us that Kennedy performs the cadenzas in "jazz and other non-classical styles...which nevertheless keep the composer's own material very much in mind." They do no harm. Then, in an eccentric twist that probably only Kennedy could get away with, he ends the program with a brief jazz piece, "Creepin' In," for violin and double bass by Horace Silver.
Because Kennedy conducts a relatively small ensemble, it helps to improve transparency, yet at the same time EMI's sonics maintain a warm, ambient glow around the music. It is traditionally good EMI sound, pleasantly atmospheric, without the bloom interfering too much with inner detailing.
Incidentally, I don't usually trust albums where the performer's name on the cover shows up larger than the composer's, and in this instance Kennedy has his name in capital letters and practically in lights. I'll make an exception.
JJP
This made me get out my copy of the CD and listen to it again, which was a very nice thing to do, since I'd forgotten how enjoyable it is.............I've been listening to something else which is very nice , in fact it's a very nice album. Thank you for posting this ! Making an exception for Nigel always pays good dividends !
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