Samuel Barber
Concerti
* Violin Concerto, op. 14
* Souvenirs, op. 28
* Piano Concerto, op. 38
McDuffie (violin), Parker (piano), Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Yoel Levi
Total time: 70:26
Telarc CD-80441
Summary for the Busy Executive: Save your money.
A shortie, for a change. McDuffie is wonderful, elevating the violin
concerto to the level of the Brahms in emotional intensity. The music
is more a part of him than every other violinist I've heard. He's more
accurate than Stern's classic, though rough-and-ready, account with
Bernstein. He's more ardent than Perlman, who seems way too careful.
Parker, a fine musician, nevertheless seems like he's hanging on by his
interpreter's fingernails in the piano concerto. Levi gives a slack, muddy
accompaniment. In short, neither will replace the Stern/Bernstein violin
concerto or the Browning/Szell, both on Sony, and both, as far as I'm
concerned, the benchmarks for these works.
The Telarc sound is gorgeous, but I don't care.
Steve Schwartz
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