BaL 25.05.13 - Szymanowski's Violin Concerto No. 1

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30am Building a Library
Rob Cowan surveys recordings of Szymanowski's Violin Concerto No.1 and makes a personal recommendation.

Available versions:

Alena Baeva, Opole Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Boguslaw Dawidow
Nicol Benedetti, LSO, Daniel Harding
Kaja Danczowska, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Kazimierz Kord
Vesko Eschkenazy, Sir Mark Elder
Ilya Kaler, Warsaw National PO, Antoni Wit
Jennifer Koh, Grant Park Orchestra, Carlos Kalmar
Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra, Katowice, Karol Stryja
Lydia Mordkovitch, BBC Philharmonic, Vassily Sinarsky
David Oistrakh (Russian Legends)
Piotr Plawner, Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Zielonogorskiej, Czeslaw Grabowski
Igo Oistrakh, RTV Symphony Orchestra Moscow, Vladimir Fedosyev
Arabella Steinbacher, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Janowski
Roman Totenberg, Pierre Monteux
Eugenia Umińska, Philharmonia Orchestra, Grzegorz Fitelberg
Xiao-Dong Wang, Adelaide SO, Omri Hadari
Thomas Zehetmair, CBSO, Sir Simon Rattle
Robert Zimansky, Janacek PO, Dennis Burkh (Download)
Frank Peter Zimmermann, Warsaw Philharmonic, Antoni Wit

[makropulos]

Such a beautiful piece. A couple of additions:

Tetzlaff, Vienna Philharmonic, Boulez (DG)
Juillet, Montreal SO, Dutoit (Decca)
Kulka, Polish National Radio SO, Maksymiuk (EMI)

And not currently available as far as I can tell, but a lovely performance that was (I think) my introduction to the piece:
Wikomirska, Warsaw National PO, Rowicki

[verismissimo]

I haven't listened to this lovely piece for decades! But I appear to have Oistrakh with the State Symphony Orchestra of USSR/Sanderling from 1960 on CD (in an Oistrakh/Brilliant box) and the Wanda Wilkomirska with the Polish National Philharmonic/Rowicki from 1961 on LP as mentioned by makropulos (a Scandinavian Caprice release, nla).

A good chance to get properly re-acquainted.

[Barbirollians]

I remember seeing in the 1980s a Polish film in which Wilkomirska's recording was part of the sound track- from the days when Channel 4 used to show esoteric foreign films. I do not remember much about the film but fell in love with the concerto .

I am a big fan of Danczowska' s recording

[mikealdren]

I got to know this fabulous piece through the Wilkomirska Muza version and it is available on import and, despite the sound, it's wonderful. I also heard her play it magnificently with the Halle in about 1973. I've also got Oistrakh (which John Ogdon once described in the Gramophone as his favourite recording of anything), Kulka, Tetzlaff and Zehetmair but Wilkomisrka gets to the heart of the music like no other.

Having said that, I must hear Danczowska.

Mike

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Around 40 years ago, a violinist friend was enthused by the work and asked me to accompany him on the piano. The duo wasn't a great success for either of us, but it gave me an appreciation of a work I've yet to acquire on CD.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I have the Kulka (on elderly Marco Polo) and Zimmermann. I've never done a side-by-side comparison but would grab the latter in the event of fire. Time for an ultra-mini BaL chez LMP?

[BBMmk2]

I have the Warsaw PO/Anotni Wit recording. This one, I think was reccomended to me, so be good if this was chosen as the BaL winner?

[Beef Oven]

I have the Warsaw PO/Anotni Wit recording. This one, I think was reccomended to me, so be good if this was chosen as the BaL winner?

What's it like BBM?

[visualnickmos]

Such a beautiful piece.
Kulka, Polish National Radio SO, Maksymiuk (EMI)

This is a splendid recording

[verismissimo]

I have the Warsaw PO/Anotni Wit recording. This one, I think was reccomended to me, so be good if this was chosen as the BaL winner?

Certainly might save you a bob or two, bbm.

[BBMmk2]

What's it like BBM?

Ah, it is sooo good, Be3efy!! Strongly reccomend this one.

[akiralx]

Wonderful piece, I have the Steinbacher on SACD and Zimmerman - wouldn't surprise me if the latter won. I must investigate Oistrakh.

[verismissimo]

Looks as though the wonderful Wilkomirska is faintly available - at a price!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Szymanowski-Orchestral-Works-Karol/dp/B00003CWJF/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1369033937&sr=1-2&keywords=szymanowski+wilkomirska

[pastoralguy]

I heard Wanda Wilkomirska play this concerto with the SNO in 1978(!!) She played it so well.

There is a story of the 18 year old Wilkomirska leading the Bayreuth orchestra under Klemperer. As the evening went on so she became more and more tired until Klemperer growled at her "Go home. Wagner is not for little children".

A very fine player whom I suspect didn't have the career she deserved.