Julia Fischer enjoys an excellent reputation among budding violinists, particularly in Germany, and this debut recording confirms the promising reports. It’s also a nice collection of not-overplayed music, and I particularly enjoyed seeing the Prokofiev coupled with something other than more Prokofiev. It’s a fine performance too: Fischer captures the mercurial central scherzo’s quicksilver passagework very well indeed, though I miss something of Oistrakh’s warmth and passion in the outer movements. Like Hilary Hahn, Fischer can sound a touch cool, but that’s a plus in the other two concertos as far as I am concerned. Both are lovely, but both can turn schmaltzy very easily, and they don’t here. The Glazunov sparkles, and I was impressed by Fischer’s ability to sustain the long central andante.
The Khatchaturian always sounds long for its material, but this performance takes the music seriously, and Fischer more than holds her own in the outer movements where the violin needs to be able to confront the orchestra fearlessly in their ongoing dialog. In the lengthy andante, once again Fischer projects passion and sincerity without excessive histrionics. Yakov Kreizberg, a fine conductor, offers well-drilled accompaniments from an orchestra obviously at home in the idiom, and sonically this is one of the best productions yet from Pentatone in multichannel format–realistic placement, good balances, and not too much rear channel. I look forward to hearing more of Julia Fischer. She’s clearly a talent to watch, even given the glut of fine young fiddlers on the scene today. Pentatone should treat her well–and plan future releases as carefully and as intelligently as this one. [3/17/2005]
