There’s some first rate music-making in this eclectic collection, including excellent performances of Sarasate’s Concert Fantasy on Gounod’s Faust, Korngold’s Caprice Fantastique, Bolcom’s Graceful Ghost Rag, Bazzini’s La Ronde des Lutins, and the obligatory (for any “ghosts and goblins” violin compilation) Tartini “Devil’s Trill” Sonata. Other pieces tend to resist being transcribed for violin and piano. Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre sounds a pale shadow of its real self absent the composer’s colorful orchestration; nor is John Williams’ Devil’s Dance (from his film score for The Witches of Eastwick) one of his stronger inspirations, at least in this arrangement. It is fun, though, to have John Morris’ title theme from Young Frankenstein making an appearance as A Transylvanian Lullabye, and while I understand violinist Gil Shaham’s decision to play the music more or less straight, a little additional schlock turns the piece from sweet to hilarious. It is, after all, a parody. But these are quibbles. Collections like this, cleverly put together and very finely executed, basically sell themselves. If you like the concept and the repertoire on offer, there’s no reason that you won’t enjoy this disc. [10/31/2001]
