2023 Approaching 60,000 reviews and more.. and still writing ...	Search MusicWeb Here

Searching Musicweb Monthly index Recordings of the Year Label index Masterwork index Series index Search engines Review Archive Classical Downloads Jazz Concerts Nostalgia Books Film music Resources Composer pages Tony Duggan's Mahler National Discographies Mark Morris's Guide to C20th Composers Ralph Moore's Surveys Online books Piano Trio Survey Cello Concerto Project Pot Pourri - Early MusicWeb Gerard Hoffnung Arthur Butterworth's columns Philip Scowcroft's British light music Interviews Programme notes MusicWeb Listening Studio Talking about Books Other material Articles Seen & Heard Message Board About Musicweb About Musicweb Contact Musicweb Contributors What they say about us Visitor stats Site Map

Founder: Len Mullenger                                    Editor in Chief:John Quinn

BUY NOW  AmazonUK

Kreisler plays Kreisler Fritz KREISLER (1879-1951) Caprice Viennois [3:46] Tambourin Chinois [3:29] Liebesfreud [3:15] Liebesleid [3:37] Schön Rosmarin [1:59] La gitana [3:11] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) (arr. KREISLER) Gavotte (from Partita No.3 in E) [3:18] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) (arr. KREISLER) Rondo (from the Haffner Serenade) [7:35] Fritz KREISLER (1879-1951) Rondino on a theme of Beethoven [2:30] Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) (arr. KREISLER) Mazurka in A minor, Op. 67, No.4 [3:43] Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) (arr. HOCHSTEIN) Waltz in A, Op.39, No.15 [2:48] Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) (arr. KREISLER) Humoresque from Humoresques, Op.101, No.7 [3:43] Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) (arr. KREISLER) Andante cantabile (from String Quartet No.1) [4:34] Nikolay Andreyevich RIMSKI-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Hymn to the Sun (from The Golden Cockerel) [4:04] Chant Hindou (from Sadko) [3:17] Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946) (arr. KREISLER) Spanish dance from La vida breve [3:22] Ede POLDINI (1869-1957) (arr. KREISLER) Dancing Doll [2:28] Cyril SCOTT (1879-1970) (arr. KREISLER) Lotus land [4:06] TRADITIONAL (arr. KREISLER) Londonderry Air [3:45] Fritz Kreisler (violin), Franz Rupp (piano) rec. Tracks 1-2, Electrola Studios, Berlin, 28 February 1936; Tracks 3-19, EMI Abbey Road Studios, 14-15 February 1938. ADD NAXOS GREAT VIOLINISTS 8.110992 [67.08]

Error processing SSI file

Better known as a performer than a composer, Kreisler nonetheless produced some delightful pieces – mainly short, fairly light, works for violin. There were also operettas and string quartets - his composition tutors included Bruckner and Delibes! - and he also made numerous arrangements of music by composers ranging from Bach to Cyril Scott. This Naxos disc presents a selection of his compositions and arrangements – both the famous (including the Liebesfreud and Schön Rosmarin), and less well-known ones. All were recorded by Kreisler himself in 1936 and 1938. There is a little bit of a hiss but the sound is otherwise pretty good. Kreisler’s sound is – as one would only expect – luscious. This is tremendously soulful playing, with a lovely, rich, dark tone, amazing virtuosity and the occasional gorgeous touch of portamento. Kreisler invests the works with a great sense of fun – particularly the opening Caprice Viennois and Tambourin Chinois. The Schön Rosmarin he performs with a wonderful freedom that allows its dancing nature to come pouring forth. I was less keen on the Bach Gavotte arrangement, which Kreisler plays very boldly, but without capturing the spirituality of the piece. Both the notorious Brahms Waltz in A - this in an arrangement by Hochstein, rather than Kreisler - and the Londonderry Air are given refreshingly unsentimental performances. There is a tender version of Kreisler’s Rondino on a theme of Beethoven; a sparkling, lively and vivacious Spanish Dance by De Falla, where the 63 year-old violinist demonstrates remarkable virtuosity, and Dvořák’s Humoresque, with Kreisler’s stunning, melting portamento swoops. His meaningful and intense arrangement and performance of Cyril Scott’s Lotus Land reminds us of his association with English music. Kreisler, of course, gave the premiere of Elgar’s Violin Concerto. Listening to this disc, one can understand how Kreisler so enchanted the audiences of the time, and how worthy he is of his great reputation. The ease and intimacy of performance, and his exceptional charm, intelligence and wit shine through this warm, sensitive playing. An utterly delightful disc. Em Marshall see also reviews by Jonathan Woolf and Göran Forsling     Gerard Hoffnung CDs Advertising on Musicweb Donate and get a free CD   New Releases Nimbus Podcast Obtain 10% discount Special offer 50% off Musicweb sells the following labels Acte Préalable (THE Polish label) Altus 10% off Atoll 10% off CRD 10% off Hallé 10% off Lyrita 10% off Nimbus 10% off Nimbus Alliance Prima voce 10% off Red Priest 10% off Retrospective 10% off Saydisc 10% off Sterling 10% off Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our free weekly review listing sample Sample: See what you will get Editorial Board MusicWeb International Founding Editor    Rob Barnett Senior Editor John Quinn Seen & Heard Editor Emeritus    Bill Kenny Editor in Chief    Vacant MusicWeb Webmaster    David Barker MusicWeb Founder    Len Mullenger

Return to Index

Error processing SSI file