devil's dance
Works by Bazzini · Bolcom · Brahms Grieg
· Korngold · Mendelssohn Morris · Paganini · Sarasate
Saint-Saëns · Tartini Williams ·
Ysaÿe
Gil Shaham (violin) Jonathan
Feldman (piano)
DG 463 483-2 [70 mins]
Crotchet
Amazon
UK
Amazon
USA
Here is a splendidly entertaining compilation of dazzling fiddling, with
Tartini's Devil's Trill sonata (not all that devilish really) and
Bolcom's Graceful Ghost Rag offering some quieter moments. Mostly
it is a high risk roller-coaster ride of virtuoso encore pieces, and Shaham
never falls off. A clever programming notion, carried off with verve and
aplomb.
Shaham is one of the greats amongst younger violinists and it is good to
have a CD of him with his hair down. Nothing meretricious; immaculate playing
throughout. It is enhanced by the collaboration with an excellent pianist,
Jonathan Feldman, who ought not have been diminished on the cover. Theirs
is a great duo and I should like to hear them together in 'serious' repertoire
also.
Peter Grahame Woolf
