Romance of the Violin by: Claude Debussy, Fryderyk Chopin, Camille Saint-Saens, Franz Schubert, Vincenzo Bellini, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Alexander Borodin, Antonin Dvorak, Claudio Monteverdi, Jules Massenet, Robert Schumann, Michael Stern, Craig Ogden, Gregory Knowles, John Constable, Jacob Heringman, Stephen Orton
Editorial Review:
Every track on this CD contains a beautiful melody, many of them easily recognizable, all of them exuding tranquility. "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi opens the disc, with Bell delicately accompanied by a harp and spinning the long melody with great sensitivity. Bellini's "Casta diva" from Norma lives up to its reputation as the epitome of bel canto in Bell's hands; his violin sings. The middle movement of Mozart's 21st Piano Concerto takes well to the violin, and Debussy's "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" is played with great warmth and sensuality. It would be easy to turn a recital like this into treacle, but Bell is wise enough to realize that the music is already sweet enough and he plays with great reserve and a minimum of sentimental slides. The light accompaniments always support, with woodwinds prominent but used with grace. This CD, in short, is a beauty: a fine gift, a lovely mood setter. --Robert Levine
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
The paradox of sensitivity and sentimentality:
The sumptuous tone that characterises Joshua Bell's CD provides what promises to be a brilliant listening experience. But for me there is a very fine line between sensitivity and sentimentality and too often he slithers over into unlovely swoops and slurs. Lush lyricism or sloppy sentiment? I don't think I will be listening to this CD very often but I will buy his interpretation of Tchaikovsky's Violin concerto which is a wonderful test of sensitivity v. sentimentality and see whether he will let the great... more info
Romance of the Violin:
Great violin work. Take your time to listen to it in its entirety. You will be trasported to the concert hall without being there.
Never thought I could like the violin this much:
Okay I play the clarinet...maybe not trained but still so I can belt out a few notes...yet. My brother played the violin for many years, but his playing never sounded like this...sorry Dave. Wonderful soft..love the flow to this album. I use it as background music at home the office and to fall asleep with. I will be checking him out more often and his new disc as well.
Joshua Hits The Bell:
This is a moving and mesmerizing album which is so soothing it might be
prescribed by a doctor for people suffering from stress or melancholia.
The tonality of Bell's instrument is like a high-powered diva who knows precisely how to hit,fondle or sustain every note. In by-passing predictable violin solos and incorporating operatic excerpts, it searingly brings to life music we know and have loved in very different contexts. Great for the long freeway rides. Lifts you out of the traffic and into... more info
Tracks:
O mio babbino caro (from 'Gianni Schicchi')
The Girl With Flaxen Hair (from Preludes, Book I; La fille aux cheveux delin: Prelude for Piano L 117/8)
Nocturne in C sharp minor (Op Post)
The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)
Serenade (from 'Schwanengesang' song cycle for voice and piano, D 957
Casta Diva (from 'Norma')
Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K. 467
Nocturne from Quartet for Strings No. 2 in D Major: 3rd movement
Dance of the Blessed Spirits (from 'Orfeo ed Euridice')
Songs My Mother Taught Me, song for voice and piano B104/4 Op 55/4
Pur ti Miro (from 'L'incoronazione di Poppea')
Elegie (Elegie 'O doux printemps d'autrefois' for voice and piano)
Traumerei ('Kinderszenen' for piano, Op 15, No. 7 'Dreaming')
![Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto [Hybrid SACD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61NDEEN1NAL._SL75_.jpg)
