The wonderful new blog I Care if You Listen has published a grand review of Sasha Rozhdestvensky & Josiane Marfurt’s new release Tchaikovsky Complete Works for Violin & Piano!
From I Care if You Listen.com:
“The Delos label’s new disc of Tchaikovsky’s complete works for violin and piano delivers consistently excellent interpretations of a frequently misunderstood composer. Sasha Rozhdestvensky’s playing has those qualities that seem to come best from Russian violinists: velvety dark lows, lyricism dripping with expression, and virtuosic ease that maintains a raw emotional state. Pianist Josiane Marfurt contributes a crystal clear clarity of voices and sensitivity to each new musical moment. The recording maintains a sense of spontaneity and in-the-moment interaction all too frequently lost in the studio.
“Valse-Scherzo, Op. 34 displays the duo’s ability for just the right of push and pull in tempo that is too often left out of studio recordings. This gives the piece just the right amount of bounce and vibrancy. Hearing Rozhdestvensky’s very deliberate bowing provides a good lesson to any musician in the fine art of articulation. While he pulls off the virtuosic passages with an effortless ease, Rozhdestvensky still manages to give the music the right slightly frantic character it needs.
“Lindsay Koob’s CD notes are refreshingly accurate in significant aspects, debunking many of the silly myths about Tchaikovsky and presenting him as his own person coming out of his own particular musical circumstances. As such, they are a contribution to respecting Russian music on its own terms and valuing its composers’ contributions.
“A final note on the recording: this disc is a real treat in its clarity, interpretive sensitivity, and emotional rawness. It’s interesting to note that Rozhdestvensky focuses much of his energy on contemporary music, collaborating with several of today’s important new composers, and also performs in Ambar and Paris Gotan Trio, both traditional Latin American instrumental groups. The freshness with which he approaches Tchaikovsky’s music gives this disc the right feel of exploration and spontaneity. I will be keeping Delos’ release of Tchaikovsky’s complete works for violin and piano on regular rotation for my own enjoyment…” – David Pearson, I Care if You Listen
We encourage you to read the absolutely wonderful and thorough review on ICareIfYouListen.com!
Tchaikovsky Complete Works for Violin & Piano
Sasha Rozhdestvensky & Josiane Marfurt
DE 3413
Click to play the samples:
- Sérénade Mélancolique, Op. 26
- Valse-Scherzo, Op. 34
- Souvenir d’un lieu cher Op. 42
- Méditation, No. 1
- Scherzo, No. 2
- Mélodie, Op. 42 No. 3
- Humoresque, Op.10 No. 2
- Andante funebre e doloroso ma con moto, Op. 30
- Oh! Chante Encore! Op.16 No. 4* (Recording Premiere: Original Tchaikovsky Arrangement)
Delos Radio Track:
Tchaikovsky Complete Works for Violin and Piano (DE 3413) – Track 6: Humoresque, Op.10, No.2 by Delos Radio
Listen to the Podcast with Lindsay Koob and artist Sasha Rozhdestvensky:
You must be logged in to post a comment.