Taking stock: Beethoven’s Violin Concerto

[fergus]

I was relatively slow to appreciate the glories of the Beethoven Violin Concerto [I honestly have no idea why this was!] but I think that it has eventually become my favourite violin concerto. It is a magnificent, majestic work and I think that I now appreciate it all the more because I had to work that little bit harder to really come to grips with it. Anyway, the following comprises my collection….

Belohlavek / Prague Philharmonic – soloist Faust [Harmonia Mundi]
van Beinum / Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam – soloist Grumiaux [Philips]
Bruggen / Orchestra of the 18th Century – soloist Zehetmair [Philips]
Cluytens / French National Radio Orchestra – soloist Oistrakh [EMI]
Davis / Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam – soloist Grumiaux [Philips]
Galliera / New Philharmonia Orchestra, soloist Grumiaux [Philips]
Gauk / Moscow State Orchestra – soloist Oistrakh [Allegro]
Haitink / Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam – soloist Krebbers [Philips]
Jochum / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – soloist Schneiderhan [DG]
von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – soloist Ferras [DG]
Konwitschny / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra – soloist Suk [Supraphon]
Munch / Boston Philharmonic – soloist Heifetz [RCA]
Munch / Boston Symphony Orchestra – soloist Heifetz [HMV]
Steinberg / Pittsburg Symphony Orchestra – soloist Milstein [EMI]
Walter / Columbia Symphony Orchestra – soloist Francescatti [Sony]
Whyte / BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra – soloist Menuhin [BBC]
Zinmann / Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich – soloist Tetzlaff [Arte Nova]

Are there any essential recordings/performances that are missing from the above list? What recommendations would you make for this work?

[mcq]

A very interesting list you have there, Fergus.  I'm very fond of the following versions:

Isabelle Faust w/Jirí Belohlávek & Prague Philharmonia
Thomas Zehetmair w/Frans Brüggen & Orchestra of the 18th Century
Janine Jansen w/Paavo Järvi & Deutsche Kammerphilarmonie Bremen (coupled with a superb version of the Britten concerto)
Viktoria Mullova w/John Eliot Gardiner & Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique
Patricia Kopatchinskaja w/Philippe Herreweghe & Orchestre des Champs-Élysées
Vera Beths w/Bruno Weil & Tafelmusik
Gidon Kremer w/Nikolaus Harnoncourt & Chamber Orchestra of Europe

Three other modern versions that I'm curious to hear are these ones:
Lisa Batiashvilli directing the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen from the violin
Liza Ferschtman w/Jan Willem de Vriend & Netherlands Symphony Orchestra
Arabella Steinbacher w/Andris Nelsons & WDR Sinfonie-Orchester

And I really must pick up Isabelle Faust's most recent version with Claudio Abbado (if only to hear her take on the Berg concerto).

[Jose Echenique]

You do have my #1 choice Fergus: Grumiaux with Alceo Galliera, and also my 2 favourites on period: Zehetmair/Brüggen and Mullova/Gardiner.

[fergus]

Thank you guys. The Gardiner/Mullova was mentioned twice; just added to the List!

[fergus]

And I really must pick up Isabelle Faust's most recent version with Claudio Abbado (if only to hear her take on the Berg concerto).

It would also be interesting to hear if her take on the Beethoven had changed in any significant way.

[fergus]

You do have my #1 choice Fergus: Grumiaux with Alceo Galliera, and also my 2 favourites on period: Zehetmair/Brüggen and Mullova/Gardiner.

Yes, it is very fine Pepe; I have it on both Vinyl and CD.

[Seán]

I have the following recordings in my collection;

Cluytens / French National Radio Orchestra – soloist Oistrakh [EMI]
Ehrling / Stockholm Festival Orchestra - soloist Oistrakh [EMI]
Munch / Boston Philharmonic – soloist Heifetz [RCA]
Zinmann / Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich – soloist Tetzlaff [Arte Nova]


and one you haven't mentioned:
Kondrashin / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - Kyung Wha Chung [DECCA]
This is a 2 cd comprising Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Sibelius violin concertos. I really like it

[Jose Echenique]

Sure, Kyung Wha-Chung is marvelous, in that early recording with Kondrashin and in a later one recorded live with the Concertgebouw and Tennstedt conducting. Her playing has a very feminine vulnerability that is very touching.

[james]

Hi Fergus,

I assume you know there is a piano version of the violin concerto [by Beethoven himself] ..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin_Con ... ethoven%29


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin_Con ... e_versions

"....
Perhaps due to the Violin Concerto's lack of success at its premiere, and at the request of Muzio Clementi, Beethoven revised it in a version for piano and orchestra, which was later published as Op. 61a. For this version, which is present as a sketch in the Violin Concerto's autograph alongside revisions to the solo part,[13] Beethoven wrote a lengthy, somewhat bombastic first movement cadenza which features the orchestra's timpanist along with the solo pianist. This and the cadenzas for the other movements were later arranged for the violin (and timpani) by Max Rostal, Eugène Ysaÿe, Michelangelo Abbado, Christian Tetzlaff and Wolfgang Schneiderhan.
...."

James

[fergus]

....and one you haven't mentioned:
Kondrashin / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - Kyung Wha Chung [DECCA]
This is a 2 cd comprising Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Sibelius violin concertos. I really like it

Thank you Seán. I have her performing the Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and Sibelius violin concertos on individual CDs but not the Beethoven.