Track Listing

1. I Allegro Moderato
2. II Canzonetta: Andante
3. III Finale: Allegro Vivacissimo
4. I Allegro Moderato
5. II Adagio Di Molto
6. III Allegro, Ma Non Tanto

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3205 in Music
• Released on: 2006-09-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 66 minutes

Customer Reviews

Truly Sibelius: Passionate commitment, bleak fire without warmth
Kyung-Wha Chung's artistry stands at the cusp of the middle and end of the 20th century. She produces a magnificent sound, plays with fantastic accuracy, and produces the modern expected perfection of tone and interpretation, yet also conveys admirable personal character in her playing. In her outstanding rendition of Sibelius, she captures that unique Sibelian magic of "Fire without warmth", the "Frozen passion", which pervades so much of his music. The Adagio di molto moves me to tears even now, and I first heard her performance when it was released on vinyl around the time I was doing my O-Level Music. I have many recordings of this piece, but Chung (and of course Heifetz) are my champions. The Tchaikovsky is simply brilliant, unbridled passion and commitment. Previn and Chung have a special magic together on this excellent remastering of a top drawer analogue recording. Buy this and enjoy a sensational must-have recording.

THE classic recording
I bought this recording on vinyl when it was first released in 1970 and it has been in my collection without a break ever since then in various formats. This newly remastered mid-price reissue of a classic recording is very welcome.

At the time of laying down these two readings Chung was a precocious 22 years old, who had just secured her first Stradivarius. Previn was also full of youthful vigour and only recently appointed the LSO's Chief Conductor

I cannot think of a single decision, tempo, dynamic, phrasing, with which I disagree in either of these two concertos. This reading of the Tchaikovsky remains for me the standard by which I judge all other recordings. It is beautifully worked between the soloist and orchestra with tempi as close to perfect as makes no difference. The closing allegro vivacissimo is performed with amazing elan, and Chung's touch, even in the difficult pizzicati and spiccati is wonderfully sure-footed without ever tipping over into the breathless.

The measured Sibelius performance is a remarkable contrast to the incandescence of the Tchaikovsky. It dates from a quarter of a century after its companion on this recording (1903 against 1878) and comes from a country that had then (and still has) a noticeable aversion to its Russian neighbour. Chung and Previn imbue this with what I can only describe as an Arctic glitter compared to their blazing reading of the Tchaikovsky. Again, the tempi and phrasing are close to perfection.

Put them together, the fire of the Tchaikovsky and the ice of the Sibelius and we have a gem of a combined performance that even after nearly 40 years still has the power to keep me riveted.

This is a staggering recording, the standard by which I judge all other performances of these two works. A relatively infrequent coupling (the Tchaikovsky is more often coupled with the Mendelssohn concerto in E minor), but a welcome contrast between two remarkable works.