Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto [Nikkanen/ Simonov-The London Philharmonic]
Played this disc almost five years ago [16th August 2010], and haven't played it since!, so it was great to revisit it today, i play all of my discs in a sort of rotation, half get played every year, a quarter get played every two years, only a small percentage end up having to wait as long as five years, but i don't know why this has languished unplayed for so long, it's a great little disc, and i really enjoyed the performance, and it was nice getting to know the Glazunov a little more also.
Kurt Nikkanen is American, he recorded this disc in 1990, on the now defunct Collins Classics label, and hasn't done a lot else recording wise, i like the booklet cover [by Hanya Chlala], i guess a sort of blue theme, the blue denim jacket is certainly a change from the bow tie and black jacket, the lettering is well laid out in nice duo colours.
The first movement has that unmistakable Tchaikovsky Russian feel, full of really good tunes, real bravura by Nikkanen, he gets the opportunity to show off his virtuoso skills [5:36-6:37], all sorts of twists and turns are created by Tchaikovsky to test a Violinists mettle, and there's fire and brimstone in the orchestral tuttis too [6:37-7:14], for Tchaikovsky it's never just mere nice tunes, he makes it so hard for the Violinist at times, you almost have to be a masochist to go through all the hoops of fire [8:07-9:18], and Tchaikovsky tuttis again a marvel to behold [9:18+], full of passion, i love the way Tchaikovsky introduces the cadenza [9:58+], which at first can seem a little on the reflective side, or possibly it's a bit low key by Nikkanen, after the cadenza, the orchestra comes back in via a superb flute solo [13:09+], over the trills of the outgoing violin cadenza, a lovely moment, the finale builds up to a real power by the violin, by rough stabs [17:29+], and almost screams [17:50+], the very end is whipped up into an exciting frenzy by the violin [18:41+], and the orchestra respond in fashion [18:47+], now that's excitement for you!.
Here's Sayaka Shoji playing the Concerto on YouTube.
Kurt Nikkanen is American, he recorded this disc in 1990, on the now defunct Collins Classics label, and hasn't done a lot else recording wise, i like the booklet cover [by Hanya Chlala], i guess a sort of blue theme, the blue denim jacket is certainly a change from the bow tie and black jacket, the lettering is well laid out in nice duo colours.
The first movement has that unmistakable Tchaikovsky Russian feel, full of really good tunes, real bravura by Nikkanen, he gets the opportunity to show off his virtuoso skills [5:36-6:37], all sorts of twists and turns are created by Tchaikovsky to test a Violinists mettle, and there's fire and brimstone in the orchestral tuttis too [6:37-7:14], for Tchaikovsky it's never just mere nice tunes, he makes it so hard for the Violinist at times, you almost have to be a masochist to go through all the hoops of fire [8:07-9:18], and Tchaikovsky tuttis again a marvel to behold [9:18+], full of passion, i love the way Tchaikovsky introduces the cadenza [9:58+], which at first can seem a little on the reflective side, or possibly it's a bit low key by Nikkanen, after the cadenza, the orchestra comes back in via a superb flute solo [13:09+], over the trills of the outgoing violin cadenza, a lovely moment, the finale builds up to a real power by the violin, by rough stabs [17:29+], and almost screams [17:50+], the very end is whipped up into an exciting frenzy by the violin [18:41+], and the orchestra respond in fashion [18:47+], now that's excitement for you!.
Here's Sayaka Shoji playing the Concerto on YouTube.
