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