This is an unusual coupling of two concertos whose only real commonalities are that they both were unorthodox for their time and were the result of considerable effort on the part of their composers. Pinchas Zukerman excels at both of these masterpieces, easily at home with their widely diverse musical styles. He maintains a sweet yet confident tone throughout the Beethoven, and plays with an elegance and authority that realizes many of the work’s lofty aspirations, especially in the profound and stately first movement and the noble second. The finale falls from this exalted state only because of its slightly-too-slow tempo. Daniel Barenboim leads the Chicago Symphony in a solid and moving accompaniment, displaying his Beethoven credentials decades before his triumphant symphony cycle on Teldec.
Zukerman’s breathtakingly serene tone drapes gossamer over Sibelius’ misty landscape. Even more importantly, he maintains the thread and pulse of the music throughout the first movement’s halting phrases. Zukerman presents the Adagio as one great, seamless arc, then dances freely in the finale where his technique is infinitely more secure than Boris Belkin’s on a previous Eloquence release. Once again, Barenboim partners him handsomely, this time with the London Philharmonic. The sound from both DG sources is warm and full, with believable balances between soloist and orchestra. A great combo, and a great bargain! [6/9/2001]
