Tchaikovsky
Joshua Bell violin; Berlin Philharmonic
Michael Tilson Thomas conducting
Review by: Robert Zierolf

From the opening cadenza, it's obvious that Josh Bell has found something in Tchaikovsky's concerto to give lie to Eduard Hanslick's review of the premier, which stated that "this is music that stinks in the ear." Some artists use eccentricities to try for a personal stamp on a work that it seems every violinist must play. Bell eschewed such pandering.

The accompaniment is respectful of this decision. Tchaikovsky's Meditation and "Russian Dance" from Swan Lake complete this superb CD.

Performance:
Sound Quality:

Robert Zierolf is Professor of Music Theory and History and Division head of Composition, Musicology, and Theory at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. He is also a freelance writer on classical music.