Comments on: Virst Impressions Of Vasks

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:33:37 +0000

Oh man… now I can’t decide whether to hold out for the CD or download it… let’s see if it arrives in the next couple of days. In the meantime I’ll try and parse the violin concerto with your hint.

By: Zoltan

Zoltan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:47:52 +0000

Hehe, and I like the swellings a bit more than the frenziness. ;)

I only have the Ylönen recording and I can recommend it even without hearing other recordings, such a beautiful tone he brings out of the cello in those slow movements (I, III, and V — noticed the symmetry? Guess what movements II and IV are!)!

I look at the Violin Concerto structurally as “movements” before and after the cadenzas for the solo violin (there are three of them — getting wilder and wilder in each reincarnation).

As for Musica dolorosa: It has a very sad story behind it for Vasks.

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:31:56 +0000

Hi Yvonne,

Well, I just ordered a physical disc for the first time in about half a year, you should feel proud :)

By: Yvonne

Yvonne — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:17:18 +0000

PS. And e-music does have the performance with Marko Ylönen, which I don’t know.
(http://www.emusic.com/album/10990/10990225.html)

By: Yvonne

Yvonne — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:11:28 +0000

Yay! [Vasks evangelist does little dance of pleasure]

But you really must check out the cello concerto, even if it means hunting down a physical CD. I think you’ll find it structurally more rewarding than the violin concerto. The best recording in my view is the one with David Geringas, for whom it was written.
(http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Name/Jonas-Alexa/Conductor/59536-3)