Dvorák: Violin concerto - Gershwin: An American in Paris

Chronique

There are some musicians who are so comfortable with their repertoire that they truly own the pieces they play. On this CD, Dvoràk: Violin Concerto; Gershwin: An American in Paris, the pieces are owned by violinist Liza Ferschtman and conductor Mario Venzago with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Amsterdam. From the very beginning of the concerto, one can hear the clean, bright energetic sound with a sensual, liquid violin soloing over the orchestra. There is indeed power in the orchestra, as one can hear in the timpani. Ferschtman plays with such ease that her sound is seamless, the result of solid technique and absolute comfort with the piece. Her sound is what one would expect from the designation "solo violinist": confident, expressive, and a delight to hear. She moves through passages with agility, with the orchestra backing her fully. Her violin at the end of the second movement sings so sweetly, and the concerto progresses into the clean, playful third movement. None of this daunts the violinist, who changes emotional gears with no difficulty, and the orchestra keeps the music light. The players are full of emotion, but never over the top; Venzago maintains just a touch of elegant restraint. The minor key Slavic folk melody is very appealing, certainly a hallmark of the composer. An American in Paris is such a popular work that there is a danger of new recordings the piece becoming "yet another" performance that has nothing special to say. Here, however, the Netherlands Philharmonic performs it with exuberance and a buoyant quality. The players capture the contrasting textures simultaneously: crisp trumpets, machine guns snare rhythms, and legato strings. It is a testament to the conductor that he can bring out each part so clearly. There is no doubt that the orchestra members are enjoying themselves, especially in the languid, jazzy trumpet theme that conjures up Harlem in the jazz age. All the ingredients work together on this CD, a sleight-of-hand that masks the hard work and technique and creates magic.
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