Two ‘Phase 4’ recordings reappear in their entirety on this double-CD of violin bon-bons. Josef Sakonov’s is of virtuoso violin pieces (including Sarasate’s ‘Zigeunerweisen’) and sentimental miniatures by Godard, Tchaikovsky, Ponce and others. This is the first international release of the complete original LP on CD. Erich Gruenberg’s recording centres around Fritz Kreisler – as both composer and arranger. Only a handful of these pieces have appeared on CD before and, as with the Sakonov recording, the ‘Phase 4’ LP is here rendered complete. These are outstanding performances, a must for lovers of the lighter side of the violin repertoire.
CD 1
JENO HUBAY: Hejre Kati
BENJAMIN GODARD: Berceuse (Jocelyn)
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY:Valse sentimentale
PAUL STERNHOLD: Fêtes Tzigane
JULES MASSENET: Méditation (Thaïs)
RICHARD HEUBERGER: Im chambre séparée
PABLO DE SARASATE: Zigeunerweisen
MANUEL PONCE: Estrellita
ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD: Intermezzo (Much ado about nothing)
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: None but the lonely heart
VITTORIO MONTI: Czardas
Josef Sakonov, violin
London Festival Orchestra
CD 2
FRITZ KREISLER:
Liebesfreud
Liebesleid
Caprice viennois
Concerto in C minor
MANUEL DE FALLA: Spanish Dance (La vida breve)
ENRIQUE GRANADOS: Spanish Dance ‘Rondalla aragonesa’
ISAAC ALBÉNIZ: Tango, Op. 165 No. 2
FRITZ KREISLER
Recitativo et Scherzo-Caprice
Schön Rosmarin
Tambourin chinois
Erich Gruenberg, violin
Philharmonia Orchestra
Elgar Howarth
Recording Producer: Raymond Few
Balance Engineer: Arthur Lilley
Recordings: London, UK 1972 (CD 1); St. Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead, London, UK, 30 June – July 1977 (CD 2)
‘Here is a rich, resonant recording … containing beautiful tone from one of the two Guanerius violins which at one time belonged to Ferdinand David… The program is a mixture of sentiment and fiery brilliance’ (Sakonov) Gramophone
‘Viennese born and bred, Erich Gruenberg has a head start in recapturing the appeal of these Kreisler sweetmeats … he extracts the last ounce of sentiment … apt period flavour’ Gramophone