Jascha Heifetz (1901-87)
Miniatures for Violin and Piano.
Debussy
Children¹s Corner
Golliwog¹s Cakewalk.
Vivaldi
Larghetto.
Albéniz Sevilla, Op. 47
No. 3.
Brahms Wie Melodien zieht es mir, Op. 105
No. 1.
Godowsky Triakontameron No. 11, Alt
Wien.
Weber Rondo.
Bach Sarabande.
Hummel Rondo in E flat, Op. 11, 'Rondo
favori'.
Ponce Estrellita.
Milhaud Brazilejra.
Schubert Impromptu in G flat, D899
No. 3.
Dinicu Hora staccato (all arr. Heifetz).
Gershwin/Heifetz Five Fragments from
'Porgy and Bess'.
Elena Denisova (violin);
Alexei Kornienko (piano).
Arte Nova 74321 72124-2
(super-budget price, 1 hour 3
minutes
Crotchet
Elena Denisova's warm, throaty violin sound and great facility with stratospheric
harmonics means that this repertoire is perfect for her technique. This is
an admirably chosen selection of Heifetz' many arrangements for violin and
piano and one which will give much pleasure to all. Pianistic purists may
balk at an arrangement of Schubert's G flat Impromptu, but there is
no denying its effectiveness. It also gives Denisova an opportunity to show
off her legato: her bow is seemingly never-ending.
Many of the other arrangements have a sense of fun as their first priority.
The opening Golliwog's Cakewalk exemplifies this perfectly and at
once establishes Denisova's facility. In fact the planing of the recital
is exemplary: reflective, lyrical arrangements (the recontextualisation of
the Vivaldi Larghetto, the Brahms song) alternate and react with the
showy (Weber's Rondo) and the positively outrageous (Milhaud's
Brazilejra).
At the centre of this recital stands the Five Fragments from 'Porgy and
Bess'. Denisova particularly excels in the yearning quality of Bess,
you is my woman now. In fact, it is the rare mix of virtuosity and lyrical
projection which distinguishes Denisova's playing. As an introduction to
Heifetz's by turns nostalgic and virtuosic world, this disc will stand you
in good stead.
Reviewer
Colin Clarke
http://www.click2classics.co.uk
