Anne-Sophie Mutter Plays Mendelssohn (FLAC)

Performer: Andre Previn
Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Conductor: Kurt Masur
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: Audio CD
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

01. Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64 – 1. Allegro molto appassionato
02. Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64 – 2. Andante
03. Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64 – 3. Allegretto non troppo – Allegro molto vivace
04. Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op.49 – 1. Molto allegro agitato
05. Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op.49 – 2. Andante con moto tranquillo
06. Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op.49 – 3. Scherzo (Leggiero e vivace)
07. Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op.49 – 4. Finale (Allegro assai appassionato)
08. Sonata for Violin and Piano in F major (1838) (without opus number) – 1. Allegro vivace
09. Sonata for Violin and Piano in F major (1838) (without opus number) – 2. Adagio
10. Sonata for Violin and Piano in F major (1838) (without opus number) – 3. Assai vivace

Mutter mutterings

These Mendelssohn pieces are major works that Mutter clearly masters and presents in interesting ways. The Violin Concerto, for instance, she takes at quite a fast pace, but still holds its shape. In partnership with Lynn Harrell and Andre Previn, she does a lovely job with the Trio No. 1.

A point of concern is Mutter’s overwhelming vibrato and excessive “expression.” To my ear, she now makes a similar over-done tone that Perlman came to rely on in his fifties. Anyone else out there hearing this?
This edition contains both a cd and a dvd. The dvd seems to have a very slight synchonization problem that I found disconcerting. As a violinist, I am interested in seeing how Mutter bows, but couldn’t quite do it with this technical glitch.
My last quibble is the package, which is all pink and mauve and flower petals. Blame it on the marketing department, not Mutter, but it doesn’t square with the artistic strength either of Mendelssohn or of these players.