Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35: Allegro moderato
2. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35: Canzonetta, Andante
3. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35: Finale, Allegro vivacissimo
4. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: Allegro moderato
5. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: Adagio di molto
6. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: Allegro, ma non tanto
7. Humoresques (2) for violin & orchestra, Op. 87b: No. 1, in D minor
8. Humoresques (2) for violin & orchestra, Op. 87b: No. 2, in D major

Disc 2:

1. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77: Allegro non troppo
2. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77: Adagio
3. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77: Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace
4. Violin Concerto in A minor, B. 96/B. 108 (Op. 53): Allegro ma non troppo
5. Violin Concerto in A minor, B. 96/B. 108 (Op. 53): Adagio ma non troppo
6. Violin Concerto in A minor, B. 96/B. 108 (Op. 53): Finale, Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo

Disc 3:

1. Chaconne for violin & continuo in G minor (spurious): Arranged by Leopold Charlier
2. Mélodie (Dance of the Blessed Spirits) for violin & piano (transcription of the Lento from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice)
3. Myrthen, 26 songs for voice & piano, Op. 25: Widmung, Op.25 No.1, Arranged by Leopold Auer
4. Romances (3) for oboe (or violin or cello) & piano, Op. 94: Romance in A major, Op.94 No.2, Arranged by Frtiz Kreisler
5. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: Hungarian Dance No.8 in A minor Presto
6. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: Hungarian Dance No.9 in E minor Allegro ma non troppo
7. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: Hungarian Dance No.20 in D minor
8. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: Hungarian Dance No.5 in G minor Allegro-Vivace
9. Suite Populaire Espagnole, for violin & piano (arr. from 'Popular Spanish Songs' by Kochanski): El paño
10. Suite Populaire Espagnole, for violin & piano (arr. from 'Popular Spanish Songs' by Kochanski): Nana, Berceuse
11. Suite Populaire Espagnole, for violin & piano (arr. from 'Popular Spanish Songs' by Kochanski): Canción
12. Suite Populaire Espagnole, for violin & piano (arr. from 'Popular Spanish Songs' by Kochanski): Polo
13. Suite Populaire Espagnole, for violin & piano (arr. from 'Popular Spanish Songs' by Kochanski): Asturiana
14. Suite Populaire Espagnole, for violin & piano (arr. from 'Popular Spanish Songs' by Kochanski): Jota
15. Songs (6) 'To Nellie', for voice & piano: Love Song No.6 of "Six Songs", Arranged by George Caterin
16. Danse Espagnole for violin & piano (transcription of Granados' Andaluza, Op. 37/5)
17. Passepied, for piano (Suite Bergamasque No. 4), L. 75/4
18. Beau soir ('Lorsque au soleil couchant les rivières sont roses'), song for voice & piano, L. 6
19. Raymonda, ballet, Op. 57: Entr'acte, Arranged by Konstantin Rodionov
20. Daisies for violin & piano (transcription of Rachmaninov's Albumblatt, Op. 38/3)
21. Vocalise, instrumental arrangement, Op. 34/14: Vocalise, Op.34 No.14, Arranged by Mikhail Press

Disc 4:

1. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in A major ('Thun'), Op. 100: Allegro amabile
2. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in A major ('Thun'), Op. 100: Andante tranquillo, Vivace
3. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in A major ('Thun'), Op. 100: Allegretto grazioso (quasi Andante)
4. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108: Allegro
5. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108: Adagio
6. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108: Un poco presto e con sentimento
7. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108: Presto agitato
8. Sonata for violin & piano in A major, M. 8: Allegro ben moderato
9. Sonata for violin & piano in A major, M. 8: Allegro
10. Sonata for violin & piano in A major, M. 8: Recitativo - Fantastico
11. Sonata for violin & piano in A major, M. 8: Allegretto poco mosso

Disc 5:

1. Sonata for violin & piano No. 1 in C sharp minor, Sz. 75, BB 84 (Op. 21): I. Allegro appassionato
2. Sonata for violin & piano No. 1 in C sharp minor, Sz. 75, BB 84 (Op. 21): II. Adagio
3. Sonata for violin & piano No. 1 in C sharp minor, Sz. 75, BB 84 (Op. 21): III. Allegro
4. Sonata for violin & piano, Op. 134: Andante
5. Sonata for violin & piano, Op. 134: Allegretto
6. Sonata for violin & piano, Op. 134: Largo

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #366000 in Music
• Released on: 1997-07-15
• Number of discs: 5
• Format: Box set

Customer Reviews

Perfect for both violin music novice and seasoned collector
This set collects performances of various vintages and sonic quality from the former Soviet Meloydia label. Some of the performances are available elsewhere, and some have been bettered by the same artist under different conductors. However, the range and beauty of pieces and performance quality in this set is perhaps unparalleled, making it, in my opinion, the single most rewarding introduction to great 19th and 20th century violin reperatory currently available. To have in a single moderately-priced set the Brahms, Dvorak, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky concerti, along with the Bartok, Brahms, Franck and Shostakovich sonatas, is itself wonderful. But every single performance is among the best in the catalogue. The violinist Oistrakh's intelligence and emotive nature are on display everywhere. The partnership with the pianist RIchter on the two sonata CDs is remarkable. I remember the Brahms and Franck sonata performances from my early youth, and they still are moving and poignant beyond belief. If you have even the slightest curiosity about classical music for the violin and don't mind a little dated sound, do yourself a favor and snap up this set.

Oistrakh (and Richter) Triumphant!
Reviewer David Mednicoff is exactly right about this set. All the concerto performances are terrific, but the two discs of sonatas (Brahms #2 & 3; Frank; Shostakovich [the live world premiere] and Bartok) with Richter are really something else. Amazing.

Fantastic
Perhaps the great accomplishment in playing an instrument is to play it naturally, as if it were like breathing. Few artists prove this point as well as Oistrakh, the Soviet Union's artist, a true symbol of the Russian's school of music's excellence. As some other reviewer said, this is a moment of true musical orgasm. As an aspiring violinist, hearing Oistrakh's effortless rendition of the Tchaikovsky brings one almost to tears before such greatness. Some may complain about his dated method, but I favor it above any other artist, and highly recommend his interpretation of both the Brahms and the Tchaikovsky. Considering the fact that people didn't walk out of his performance of the pieces while a bombing raid was going on (during WWII), the man's musical prowess is second to none. Of special attention is the Brahms Sonata in A Major with Richter, easily one of the purest performances of the piece.