Tchaikovsky: Piano & Violin Concertos / Georges Cziffra & Leonid Kogan (2001)

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Tchaikovsky: Piano & Violin Concertos / Georges Cziffra & Leonid Kogan (2001)

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Two great and very popular romantic concertos by Tchaikovsky - his first piano concerto and violin concerto, played by two legendary instrumentalists - Georges CZIFFRA, and Leonid KOGAN. Both works got off to an inauspicious start as the dedicatees {Nicholas Rubinstein and Leopold Auer} deemed the works to be awkwardly written and unplayable! So upset was Tchaikovsky by Rubinstein's offensive remarks that he dedicated the work to Hans von Bulow who gave the first successful performance in America. He did, however, dedicate his second piano concerto to Rubinstein who in turn played the first piano concerto with great success. A big bravura virtuoso technique is needed to play these works and both soloists have the technical armoury to bring them off! Cziffra's view of the piano concerto is surprisingly lyrical, although the first cadenza of the introduction is electrifying and alternating chord passages and double octaves in the first movement similarly breathtaking. Cziffra plays the slow movement `semplice' as marked with dazzling finger work in the scherzo - like `prestissimo' middle section but in the Finale which Tchaikovsky marks to be played `con fuoco' {with fire} Cziffra concentrates on its lyrical qualities which robs the music of its essential Ukrainian fire and dash, although he does play the final double octave cadenza and coda with panache. Kogan similarly brings much excitement to the violin concerto and he is backed to the hilt by the conductor Constantin Silvestri who always was a very fine Tchaikovskian. Kogan brings soaring lyricism, with just the right amount of melancholy to Tchaikovsky's inspired melodies, as in the `Canzonetta' slow movement and in the final `Allegro' he plays with dazzling virtuosity and fiery gypsy spirit. A masterly performance to rank with the likes of Heifetz, Milstein et al. –Amazon–