Not much changed about Henryk Szeryng’s view of the Brahms Violin Concerto in the decade following his previous recording for Mercury Living Presence (type Q10747 in Search Reviews). This 1970s remake finds the violinist in a similar interpretive stance, offering emotional warmth and poise while dispatching the work’s myriad technical difficulties with great flair. What is different is a new element of sweetness in Szeryng’s tone, which now sounds brighter than before. His articulation has a softer edge too, but this probably has more to do with the recording, which was made in the resonant and plush acoustic of Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw (well captured by Philips’ vintage analog recording). Bernard Haitink takes a grand approach to the orchestral score, pacing the music broadly while reveling in the Concertgebouw Orchestra’s rich, full-bodied tone.
This praise extends to the Mendelssohn concerto as well, where Szeryng and Haitink offer similar virtuosity and depth of feeling. Szeryng’s instrument sounds particularly bright here, as befits the music. But what’s really compelling is the beguiling singing quality of his playing, which makes a great effect in the first movement. This fine rendition, also splendidly recorded, is one of the choice items available from Arkivmusic.com’s “on-demand” service. [4/10/2007]
