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I
find it difficult to review performances of great masterpieces.
There are so many recordings and most of them are very good.
Only a small percentage have the musical depth, the virtuosity
and the individuality to qualify as "great". This
one doesn't make it but is well above the pack.
Ossy
Renardy was born Oscar Reiss in Vienna in 1920 and made his
debut at the age of 13. He came to the United States, changed
his name and was building a a very good career when he was
killed in an automobile accident in 1953 at the age of 33.
This recording, the only concerto recording he made, shows
what a loss his death was for us.
Münch
shows his characteristic vigor and drive in the orchestral
introduction.
Renardy
makes a fiery entrance and a superb transition to the second
theme. With clean double-stopping, Renardy rides the lovely
third theme into the extremely exciting triple-stopping to
complete the exposition. Shrillness is avoided throughout
the development, although I feel some slackening of tension
and focus toward the end of the development and the beginning
of the recapitulation. Somehow, Renardy gets all the power
back and the recapitulation is terrific. The cadenza is not
the standard Joachim, but is very musical.
The
slow movement is possibly the finest I've ever heard. The
oboist is incredibly eloquent and Renardy matches him. This
slow movement is one of the few I've heard that balances the
first and third movements.
The
finale is very good, but it does not quite match the other
two movements. It seems to lack the brilliance and panache
that they have.
Still,
this is a very fine performance of the Brahms violin concerto
by a violinist that few of us know. The reproduction is very
clean and beautiful and allows us to hear what might have
been but for that automobile accident.
Reviewer:
Bill Rosen |
