Various Composers - Violin Encores [Markov/ Cogan]It's good to have this compilation disc of violin encores at my disposal, this one delves a little off the beaten track, and some of the pieces are questionable, the Schubert and Gershwin pieces are fairly poor, but at least Markov gives a different take on things, on the whole i think this was a lost opportunity, the track listing could have been greatly improved upon, give me Sarah Chang, Kyung Wha Chung, or Midori any day, they all have superior violin & piano encore discs available which i love.
Alexander Markov is Russian, though he is now an American citizen, i guess he's almost 50 years old today, he recorded this disc in 1993, the front cover is a photo by Jacques Sarrat, almost a mug shot of Markov, violin under chin, and white bow tie, it's actually a really good shot, and amazing that so much is in focus, and nicely bordered by his hair, a clever little shot.
Well i enjoyed tracks 1 & 5-6 the most, the Khachaturian i hardly ever hear, so it was welcome to hear it again, the Kroll was played very fast, too fast to properly take effect, but enjoyable nonetheless, but it was the heavenly Gluck Melodie that i enjoyed the most, this piece has appeared twice before in my Blog, by Sarah Chang [1st June 2011], and Midori [29th July 2010], and it's gorgeous and soothing, but it has a touch of sadness too, on this recording it's a transcription by Kreisler, Markov gets those soaring opening lines right, and yet there's maybe a sense of mystery missing, also he's a tad too loud, drowning out the Pianist, but it's still so beautiful, i'm in heaven whenever i hear this piece.
Here's Renaud Capucon playing Gluck's Melodie on YouTube.
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