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In fact, this is my favorite recording of the Brahms, largely because of Milstein's combination of knowing musicianship coupled with his HUGE tone; Fistoulari and the Philharmonia give him a magnificent accompaniment. Strangely, although he recorded it also with Vienna Philharmonic under Eugen Jochum, the warmth of tone on this recording puts it ahead of what might have been expected to be a superior recording. Also, he recorded it with William Steinberg and the Pittsburgh (and oddly, they accompany him in the Tchaikovsky on this disc--I wonder why EMI/Seraphim didn't combine the two Pittsburgh performances on this disc?) but, again, the Fistoulari/Philharmonia sound outscores the Steinberg/Fistoulari; also, Steinberg seems somewhat self-effacing in his Brahms accompaniment. In this recording Milstein's playing is more intense in the outer movements, more lyrical in the Adagio. No question in my mind, this is the Brahms/Milstein to get if you're going to have just one.

The Tchaikovsky is marginally less outstanding, although it is quite good. There are many other equally marvelous Tchaik concerto recordings, e.g. Heifetz/Reiner/Chicago SO, Oistrakh/Ormandy/Philadelphia. Still, Milstein's luscious Canzonetta is one of the very best. In the final movement his crisp articulation is a plus, but there is perhaps not as much fire as one would wish for.

I would think this would be a perfect buy for someone who has NO recordings of these towering masterpieces. And at this price it certainly can be recommended to anyone who wants additional performances of them.

Recommended.

Scott Morrison

27 of 28 found the following review helpful:

Possibly the biggest steal in all of recorded music !Oct 21, 2005
By Hannibal
As one who grew up adoring the Jascha Heifetz/Fritz Reiner recordings of these two great concerti, and certain they had set a standard of musical excellence impossible of being equalled, much less bettered, imagine my surprise upon hearing this fabulous disc.

HEIFETZ & REINER HAVE BEEN DETHRONED!

Having beaten back great artists in recent years such as Vengerov and Shaham, it hardly seemed possible that there were two old recordings by Nathan Milstein (which must have skipped my notice) which had long ago taken the prize....

...Music lovers, forget the Rosette and attendant babble given by the Penguin Guide to the Milstein Brahms Concerto (with Steinberg conducting, in mono). That publication after dismissively mentioning the Jochum conducted performance of the 1980s adds insult to injury by ignoring completely this Fistoulari conducted version! (Even if it is currently unavailable in the UK, surely it should be remembered - it was even recorded there!)

Of course any performance by a genius such as Milstein will have wonderful moments now and then, but this recording, with Fistoulari conducting, in stereo, is the best of them all - it has real magic and passion, and is the performance to get.

The Tchaikovsky with Steinberg is probably more of a draw, but the "Finale" is as good as it gets, and the rest is merely magnificent. What a fiddler!

Finally, that this disc is being sold to the public at a price this low should make all music lovers weep in gratitude, certain that "Yes, Virginia - there is a Santa Claus...."

37 of 40 found the following review helpful:

Exceptional Value, Marvelous Music!Feb 11, 2003
By P. Kingsriter "R.N. Guy"
Soloist Nathan Milstein has a new fan! His technical mastery and emotional expressiveness when performing both Tchaikovsky and Brahms is stunning. The composers respective musical opposites, but Milstein captures the spirit of each piece with great vigor.

The pieces themselves are thoroughly enjoyable as well. They seem hand-picked to showcase the abilities of the soloist but are easy on the ears. Tchaikovsky's Allegro Moderato (track 1) in particular, is a triumphant and passionate piece that celebrates the width and breadth of orchestral music. Brahms' creations are equally emotive, but in more subtle ways.

The quality of the recordings is excellent - far better than I was expecting for the price. One can make out the different intonations of Milstein's strings as he gracefully attacks each note - a quality that many more expensive discs cannot claim. The orchestra backing up Milstein is well conducted and perfectly mixed, providing a grand balance for Milstein's solos.

If you're a fan of great violin pieces, this album is a *must buy*. If you're a fan of classical music in general, this disc comes highly recommended.

13 of 13 found the following review helpful:

sounds as good as any $15 recordingJan 18, 2005
By Eugene Kim "ugen64"
I got this CD because it was recommended in the Penguin Book (the Penguin Guide to Compact Discs), and at $4, as someone said, I couldn't afford not to get it. It's brilliant - the Brahms is better than the Mutter/Karajan/BPO recording, and the Tchaikovsky is better than the only other recording I'd heard at the time (Mehta/Zukerman/Israel Philharmonic). The orchestra is very good, and Milstein plays the double stops (these pieces are harder than practically every other violin concerto other than Paganini's) effortlessly. The CD is very romantic and easy on the ears - a good example of the Romantic era. And there's two recordings for $4 - how can you not get it :).

16 of 17 found the following review helpful:

Milstein is spectacular here!Jun 07, 2005
By Donald G. Hite III "clarinetist extraordinaire!"
As many reviews have been written about this disc, I'll try to keep it short and mention the things that I like about this CD most.

There are tons of recordings of these pieces, most of which are incredible and worth hearing. The thing that strikes me most about Milstein's playing is how polished it is. His tone and phrasing is perfectly thought out and executed on every single passage, even those which are highly virtuosic. His sound is gorgeous and supple, again even in the most difficult passages. I also enjoy his style, particularly on the Tchaikovsky. His use of rubato and other such expressive tools is entirely appropriate and never overdone.

When I listen to this disc, it is very clear that Milstein absolutely mastered every aspect of his instrument. His versions of these "old favorites" are absolutely wonderful.

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