Antonín Dvořák: Violin Concerto; Mazurek, Op.49
Pablo de Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen; Carmen Fantasy (2001)
Akiko Suwanai, violin; Budapest Festival Orchestra, conducted by Iván Fischer
EAC | FLAC | Tracks (Cue&Log) ~ 254 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 149 Mb | Scans included
Genre: Classical | Label: Philips Classics | # 464 531-2 | Time: 00:55:27
Pablo de Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen; Carmen Fantasy (2001)
Akiko Suwanai, violin; Budapest Festival Orchestra, conducted by Iván Fischer
EAC | FLAC | Tracks (Cue&Log) ~ 254 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 149 Mb | Scans included
Genre: Classical | Label: Philips Classics | # 464 531-2 | Time: 00:55:27
Dvorák’s Violin Concerto has been undergoing a renaissance of sorts on disc, one that it entirely deserves. Its critics (starting with Joachim and Brahms) dismissed it for not adopting the usual sonata-form first movement structure, instead welding the truncated opening to the gorgeous slow movement. But really, how many violin concertos are there where you can really say that the best, most characterful and highly developed movement is the finale? And what could possibly be bad about that? Clearly Fischer and Suwanai understand where the music’s going: the performance gathers steam as it proceeds, and really cuts loose in that marvelous last movement. Suwani displays a characteristically polished technique and fine intonational ear (lending a lovely purity of utterance to the slow movement), but she’s not afraid to indulge in some “down and dirty” gypsy fiddling in the finale, or in the two Sarasate items that open the program. Okay, she may not be Josef Suk, Fischer is no Ancerl, and the Budapest Festival Orchestra is certainly no Czech Philharmonic; but this program–very well played, nicely recorded, and unified by its Slavic/Gypsy theme–adds up to much more than the sum of its parts. Like the Dvorák itself, it builds to a rousing conclusion and makes for a very satisfying conceptual whole. You’ll return to it many times, always with pleasure.Review by David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
This is a remarkable record. I have little hesitation in placing the performance of the Dvorák as a first choice. The remaining items on the disc are despatched with a stunning command of the violin, coupled with much innate sensitivity.
Initially, the photo of Suwanai on the back cover of the booklet rang all sorts of alarm bells. She is depicted as some sort of Asian doll. Publicity departments of record companies have had a lot to answer for in the past, and here their chosen image seems to run contrary to the aural evidence of the disc, which shows a musician of considerable maturity (the absolutely stunning front cover is infinitely more tasteful).
The Sarasate pieces that open the disc are the stuff of virtuosos, but even here Suwanai imbues them with a compulsive musicality which means they never degenerate into mere kitsch. Her technique is more than equal to their formidable demands, but possibly what remains in the mind most is her ability to thin her sound to a magical thread at exactly the right moment. The Carmen Fantasy is gripping, the effect of the whole enhanced immeasurably by Fischer's shadow-like accompaniment.
Dvorák's Mazurek provides much more than a bridge to the world of his Violin Concerto: Suwanai shows her affinity to the Bohemian world here whilst simultaneously relishing the technical challenges. But it is the Concerto that ensures this disc's lasting place in my library. She loses nothing to the competition (most notably, perhaps, Josef Suk with Ancerl on Supraphon SU19282). The rapport between Fischer and Suwanai is at its height here: they project the musical argument in the most ardent, committed terms. Suwanai is remarkably sweet-toned throughout, showing the more lyrical, yearning side of her nature perfectly in the slow movement. The finale's pointed furiant rhythms bring the piece to a spirited, lively close.
I cannot recommend this disc highly enough. The recording is clear and well balanced, capturing every nuance. For those new to Dvorák's Violin Concerto, this record will come as a revelation. A friend of mine (whose musical judgement I trust) heard Suwanai in Japan several years ago and described her as typical of the Oriental, technically perfect but musically lacking school. It would appear that Akiko Suwanai has grown up.
Unhesitatingly recommended.Review by Colin Clarke, MusicWeb-International
Tracklist:
Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908)
01. Zigeunerweisen (07:55)
02. Carmen Fantasy (11:46)
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
03. Mazurek, Op.49 (06:09)
Violin Concerto in A minor, Op.53
04. I. Allegro ma non troppo (11:03)
05. II. Adagio ma non troppo (09:16)
06. III. Finale: Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo (09:17)
Exact Audio Copy V1.1 from 23. June 2015
EAC extraction logfile from 13. February 2016, 19:38
Dvorak & Sarasate / Violin Works - Akiko Suwanai
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==== Log checksum E5B2C93114A3DD102F3ADA0FFAA09DECA161CF41C0485227D81AFBAD964F3F89 ====
EAC extraction logfile from 13. February 2016, 19:38
Dvorak & Sarasate / Violin Works - Akiko Suwanai
Used drive : PLEXTOR CD-R PREMIUM2 Adapter: 5 ID: 1
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 30
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Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
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Used interface : Installed external ASPI interface
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
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Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.42 | 7:55.00 | 42 | 35666
2 | 7:55.42 | 11:46.00 | 35667 | 88616
3 | 19:41.42 | 6:09.00 | 88617 | 116291
4 | 25:50.42 | 11:03.08 | 116292 | 166024
5 | 36:53.50 | 9:16.67 | 166025 | 207791
6 | 46:10.42 | 9:17.00 | 207792 | 249566
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==== Log checksum E5B2C93114A3DD102F3ADA0FFAA09DECA161CF41C0485227D81AFBAD964F3F89 ====
foobar2000 1.2 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2016-03-07 17:36:11
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Dvorák & Sarasate / Violin Works - Akiko Suwanai (violin), Budapest Festival Orchestra, Iván Fischer
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
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DR17 -1.97 dB -25.94 dB 7:55 01-Sarasate - Zigeunerweisen
DR19 0.00 dB -25.98 dB 11:46 02-Sarasate - Carmen Fantasy
DR16 0.00 dB -23.65 dB 6:09 03-Dvorak - Mazurek
DR14 0.00 dB -21.10 dB 11:03 04-Dvorak - Violin Concerto - I. Allegro ma non troppo
DR15 -1.51 dB -23.02 dB 9:17 05-II. Adagio ma non troppo
DR15 -0.89 dB -20.27 dB 9:17 06-III. Finale: Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo
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================================================================================
log date: 2016-03-07 17:36:11
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Dvorák & Sarasate / Violin Works - Akiko Suwanai (violin), Budapest Festival Orchestra, Iván Fischer
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR17 -1.97 dB -25.94 dB 7:55 01-Sarasate - Zigeunerweisen
DR19 0.00 dB -25.98 dB 11:46 02-Sarasate - Carmen Fantasy
DR16 0.00 dB -23.65 dB 6:09 03-Dvorak - Mazurek
DR14 0.00 dB -21.10 dB 11:03 04-Dvorak - Violin Concerto - I. Allegro ma non troppo
DR15 -1.51 dB -23.02 dB 9:17 05-II. Adagio ma non troppo
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