Track Listing

1. Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 - Mendelssohn
2. Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26 - Bruch
3. Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46 - Bruch
4. Flight of the warrior
5. On wings of eagles
6. Johnny's back
7. Bloodstreets
8. Run for your life
9. Buried alive (tell tale heart)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35783 in Music
• Released on: 1999-09-13
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 78 minutes

Customer Reviews

Definitive Mendelssohn, phenomenal poetry in the Bruch(s)
Kyung Wha Chung cut these legendary recordings in the 70s, with fantastic analogue sound and outstanding orchestral rapport. She plays the Mendelssohn with a pace which brings out the sheer joy and beauty of the music, free of lingering exaggerated sentimentality. If ever there was a modern masterpiece, this recording is one. The sound is sweet and virile, and in this as in so many of her recordings she plays as if she is capturing a live performance, not the stereotyped studio. There is a spontaneity so often lacking in studio recordings, and this time it does not fade with repeated hearings.
The Bruch Concerto is also wonderfully fresh, a real breath of life in a much-recorded work. (Astonishingly, she plays this work even more beguilingly later with Klaus Tennstedt, coupled with the Beethoven, another must-have recording). I first heard the Kempe collaboration of the Bruch Concerto and Scottish Fantasy when it was released on vinyl, long ago played into scratched oblivion as was the way with my favourite LPs. Hearing the CD is just magical. Even the fabulous disc with Heifetz playing Bruch & Glazunov doesn't eclipse Kyung Wha Chung's legendary performance.

Truly madly deeply ..... happy
How could anyone listen to Kyung-Wha Chung's Mendelssohn and not fall madly deeply in love with her delightful playing? It is spirited and sweet, played with brio and purity. No egging on the romantic sentiment, just joyful music making at it's most natural and sublime. The pace brings out the very best in the brilliance, and the phrasing breathes happiness.
The Bruch #1 is passionate, yet may sound surprisingly virile for those who are not familiar with Kyung-Wha Chung's delivery in her earliest recordings: definite attacks at some places give definite grunt from the start of the note, which adds spontaneity to the sound colour and spells out her commitment to the interpretation. In part it conveys the "alive" feelings I got when I heard her playing in concert in the 80s. Her rubato is lovely. Do also listen to her later recording with Tennstedt, they are both outstanding performances with different nuances.
Bruch's Scottish Fantasy has been really spoiled for me by the Vanessa Mae pop version. Remember how the cheap fake cut glasses "free with 4 gallons of petrol" demeaned the enjoyment of handling & drinking from the real thing? So it was with the Scottish Fantasy. Well, Heifetz' version just kept the flame alive for me; but re-hearing this CD legends re-release has fanned the flame back to something worthwhile and warming. I first heard this on vinyl when it was first released - never heard her play it live, more's the pity.
Personally, I can't see the point of the Penguin Classics version when this legends issue has the Mendelssohn and better remastering over all..
Also I can't see the point of the Double Decca issue with Mendelssohn/Beethoven(Kondrashin)/Tchaikovsky/Sibelius when one can get the Sibelius/Tchaik as one CD plus the better Beethoven(Tennstedt) coupled with the later Bruch(Tennstedt)as a second CD; then get this Legends CD.....and you must be in love with one of the legendary violinists of our time.

Legendary - spine tingling stuff that passes the test with flying colours !
I had high expectations of the Bruch on this recording and was not disappointed.

On some recordings of the Bruch you need to really listen quite hard to hear the soloist. There's a tendency to try and make the piece overly emotional and as a result it can lose its sparkle and the performance can appear to be lacking in confidence and almost timid in its delivery.

Not so here. Every note is hit perfectly and the sheer virtuosity of the performer shines through. Tone is great and there is plenty of drama. You can hear it all, and it sends a shiver down your spine. The recording quality is excellent - don't let the fact that it's a 1972 analogue remaster put you off. It sounds better than many 21st Century recordings that I have. The other tracks are also excellent but its the Bruch that has really stood the test of time. Buy it!