Visions Of Prokofiev

As a preface to this review I will point out that the single star review from amazon.com is incomprehensible to me and presumably refers to a glitch in the download process. My review refers to the CD.It seems that in order to secure contracts with the major recording companies-and indeed concert promoters-female artists who have a degree of physical allure stand the best chance!I would observe that in some cases I can think of, the physical attributes exceed the artistic ones, but certainly not in the case of Lisa Batiashvili who is a beautiful artist in every respect.I hope that she will forgive the over familiarity if I refer to her henceforth as Lisa-this is simply to reduce the risk of misspelling her surname as I have already had several failed attempts!This disc is a wonderful companion to her earlier “Echoes of Time” collection which featured the music Shostakovich, Kancheli and Pärt among others.This disc is best taken as a performance of the 2 Prokofiev Violin Concertos with 3 “ Lollipops,” as Beecham termed them, in the form of encores arranged for solo violin and orchestra by Lisa’s father Tamas, himself a noted violinist and musicologist.Now based in Germany (since age 12), Lisa is accompanied on this disc by another German orchestra following her recordings with the BRSO and Berlin Staatskapelle, this time the Berlin based Chamber Orchestra of Europe under newly risen star Nezet-Seguin.I can cut to the chase-the word to sum up this collection is-sublime!Of course, I LOVE the 2 concertos, particularly the Second and Lisa not only does them both justice, she elevates them to sublime heights.This is achieved by a combination of breathtaking virtuosity and exquisite beauty of tone, her Guarnerius producing a richer tone than a Strad at the lower end of the scale, and a silverine beauty in the upper stratosphere such as to match any instrument.Of course, this would pass for nothing if the interpretations were not of the finest, most insightful quality, which happily they are.Prokofiev was careful not to pit his soloist against a massed phalanx of instruments, and the scoring IS for a larger chamber orchestra-2 horns, 2 trumpets, single woodwinds but full strings.The first concerto, composed and revised between 1915 and 1923 is the more revolutionary, reflecting the period when Prokofiev could not decide whether he was Stravinsky, Schoenberg or Tchaikovsky and really comes to life in the final Moderato movement.The Second from 1935 reflects the Prokofiev who had found his true voice, and being broadly contemporary with the composing of Romeo and Juliet has assonances with that glorious work, and is rich in flowing melodic invention especially in the second movement.Lisa is at her glorious best in this movement, but scarcely less so in the Spanish pastiche that is the third movement, with obvious influences of Shostakovich in the development, but with its dancing rhythms and castanets is a good natured festival.The intense, contemplative opening movement requires an exquisite sustained long line from the soloist, and Lisa genuinely takes the breath away! The three makeweights do not do that much for me-they are fun, enjoyable enough and certainly allow Lisa to “show off”-the Grand Waltz from Cinderella is particularly successful-but it would be a real curmudgeon who complained about their inclusion-not me in this instance!The recordings, engineered by DG veteran Rainer Maillard, are excellent, presentation is good and at the asking price this well filled disc is a bargain.I really love the Znaider/BRSO/Jansons recording of the Second Concerto and venerable recordings of both concertos by Kyung-Wha Chung and the late Lydia Mordkovitch are frequently played, but in truth I can think of no finer way to enjoy or discover these works than this release.5 Stars –and ignore the One Star Nonsense. Stewart Crowe.

Love Lisa Batiashvili... and Prokofiev. What more can I say? Highly recommended.

I bought the disc on the strength of my abiding fascination for the young violinist, Lisa Batiasvili which met with my high expectations.The disc has a predominant but not exclusive Eastern character: a Russian composer, a Georgian violinist as is her father, Tomas Batiasvili who arranged for solo violin and orchestra, the excerpts from ballets 'Romeo and Julia' and 'Cinderella' and the opera 'The Love for Three Oranges'. But there is a meeting of East and West in the French Canadian Conductor, Yannick Nezet-Sequin and the Chamber Orchestra for Europe; but also in the body of the work itself which is particularly evident in the First Violin Concerto, when Ravelian lyricism of great harmonic finesse, is juxtaposed with sections of gripping force.The two Prokofiev violin concertos share a family resemblance. Batiasvili in her fascinating rendition captures both their theatricality and the strikingly translucent but multi-hued orchestration and the wealth of their powerful, clear and vivid characteristics; in her rendition of Prokofiev's stage works she exquisitely plays the violin in contrasting roles: the lean and muscular march from his opera 'The Love for Three Oranges', one of the composer's most exhilarating creations; and the gloomy 'Dancing of the Knights' from 'Romeo and Juliet' contrasting with the fragile beauty of the 'Grand Waltz' from 'Cinderella'.Regarding the orchestral accompaniment, Batiasvili's poetic comment is illuminating: 'the music unfolds organically and movingly that it resembles the workings of a natural law'.

Superb. Did not know much of this music but glad I purchased. Great sound too.

Prokofiev, with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe? Who thought that would be a good idea? Not me. I was interested to see what this is like because I think Lisa Batiashvili is a tremendous violinist (her recent recording of Tchaik and Sib with Barenboim was exceptional, and the best recordings of those works for decades - and Barenboim is not a conductor I usually like outside of Wagner and Elgar). The Violin Concertos are particularly striking, with the slow movement of the G Minor a highlight. I can’t say I know a great many recordings of these works, so can not provide a list of comparative recommendations, but I very much enjoyed these recordings.I’m slightly less keen on the “fillers”. The Romeo and Juliet is way too tame, and the others just sound a bit too Classic FM for me.The COE play well, as they always do, but I am still left with the impression that they shouldn’t really play anything later than Schubert. Perhaps a Shostakovich cycle with YNS awaits...

All is ok.

IExcellent, beautiful recording. Great service.

Lisa Batiashvili est une des violonistes (avec Isabelle Faust et Vilde Frang) que j'admire le plus. J'aime beaucoup son interprétation de Prokofiev.

No argument about B's performance, but the two concerti are "random" music -- shifting from one musical idea to another, no connecting tissue. One gets bored, then vexed by it.

En una primera impresiçon, impresiona poco, pero conforme se escucha varias veces va ganando, ya que ella es una especialista en Prokofiev.

Ottima la registrazione, esecuzione ragguardevoleIl concerto e gli altri pezzi sono di rado pubblicati e meritano un ascolto.Un'oretta di piacevole musica da ascoltare con tranquillità.