These decidedly ho-hum performances were recorded back in 1997 by a soloist who has done some splendid things in the Baroque repertoire. Here, on modern instruments, he fiddles efficiently but with few qualities that can’t be heard to better effect elsewhere. He has neither Grumiaux’s poise and sensitivity, Perlman’s sheer virtuosity, or the style and verve of Mutter on her recent recording (DG). The orchestra is distinctly bland, and there are times (in the Fourth Concerto especially) where conductor and soloist seem not to agree completely about the principal tempo. The performance of the Fifth Concerto is notably dull: the slow movement comes off as particularly inert. The sonics are good and favor Carmingnola, which was a wise decision. But let’s face it: you can do much better, and in fact probably already have. Even at budget price, and despite that fact that nothing here is downright terrible, it’s hard justify purchase of this set.
