Vadim Repin (10 CD box set, APE)

Performer: Vadim Repin
Composer: Niccolo Paganini , Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky , Antonio Bazzini , Henryk Wieniawski, Pablo de Sarasate, Manuel Ponce), Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst, Claude Debussy, Franz Schubert, Sergey Prokofiev, Maurice Ravel, Grigoras Dinicu, Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, Bela Bartok, Nikolay Medtner, Dmitry Shostakovich, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Jean Sibelius
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 10 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Warner Classics
Size: 2.32 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 1
01. Capriccio on ‘Nel cor più non mi sento’, for violin solo in G major, Op. 38, MS 44
02. Souvenir d’un lieu cher, for violin & piano (or orchestra), Op. 42: Melody
03. La Ronde des Lutins, scherzo fantastique for violin & piano, Op. 25
04. Polonaise (No. 1) de concert, for violin & orchestra in D major, Op. 4
05. Caprice for solo violin in A minor (Theme & Variations), Op. 1/24, MS 25/24
06. Introduction and Variations on ‘Dal tuo stellato soglio’ from Rossini’s ‘Mosè’, for violin & orchestra, MS 23
07. Variations on an Original Theme, for violin & piano, Op. 15
08. Zapateado, for violin & piano, Op. 23/2
09. Estrellita for voice & piano (or orchestra)
10. Valse-scherzo, for violin & orchestra (or violin & piano) in C major, Op. 34
11. Grand caprice on Der Erlkönig, for solo violin (after Franz Schubert), Op. 26

Disc: 2
01. Sonata for violin & piano, L. 140: 1. Allegro vivo
02. Sonata for violin & piano, L. 140: 2. Intermède – Fantasque et léger
03. Sonata for violin & piano, L. 140: 3. Finale – Très animé
04. Sonata for violin & piano in A major (‘Duo’), D. 574 (Op. posth. 162): 1. Allegro moderato
05. Sonata for violin & piano in A major (‘Duo’), D. 574 (Op. posth. 162): 2. Scherzo – Presto
06. Sonata for violin & piano in A major (‘Duo’), D. 574 (Op. posth. 162): 3. Andantino
07. Sonata for violin & piano in A major (‘Duo’), D. 574 (Op. posth. 162): 4. Allegro vivace
08. Sonata for 2 violins in C major, Op. 56: 1. Andante cantabile
09. Sonata for 2 violins in C major, Op. 56: 2. Allegro
10. Sonata for 2 violins in C major, Op. 56: 3. Commodo (quasi Allegretto)
11. Sonata for 2 violins in C major, Op. 56: 4. Allegro con brio
12. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in G major: Blues
13. Hora di Mars for violin and orchestra

Disc: 3
01. Sonata for violin & piano in E flat major, Op. 18 (TrV 151): 1. Allegro, ma non troppo
02. Sonata for violin & piano in E flat major, Op. 18 (TrV 151): 2. Improvisation: Andante cantabile
03. Sonata for violin & piano in E flat major, Op. 18 (TrV 151): 3. Finale: Andante – Allegro
04. Divertimento, transcription for violin & piano by Stravinsky & Samuel Dushkin (after The Fairy’s Kiss): 1. Sinfonia: Andante
05. Divertimento, transcription for violin & piano by Stravinsky & Samuel Dushkin (after The Fairy’s Kiss): 2. Danses suisses
06. Divertimento, transcription for violin & piano by Stravinsky & Samuel Dushkin (after The Fairy’s Kiss): 3. Scherzo: Allegretto grazio
07. Divertimento, transcription for violin & piano by Stravinsky & Samuel Dushkin (after The Fairy’s Kiss): 4. Pas de deux: Adagio
08. Divertimento, transcription for violin & piano by Stravinsky & Samuel Dushkin (after The Fairy’s Kiss): 4. Pas de deux: Variation
09. Divertimento, transcription for violin & piano by Stravinsky & Samuel Dushkin (after The Fairy’s Kiss): 4. Pas de deux: Coda: Presto
10. Romanian Folk Dances (7) for violin & piano (arranged by Zoltán Szekely from piano version), Sz. 56, BB 68: Joc cu bât (Stick Dance)
11. Romanian Folk Dances (7) for violin & piano (arranged by Zoltán Szekely from piano version), Sz. 56, BB 68: Brâul (Sash Dance)
12. Romanian Folk Dances (7) for violin & piano (arranged by Zoltán Szekely from piano version), Sz. 56, BB 68: Pe loc (On the spot)
13. Romanian Folk Dances (7) for violin & piano (arranged by Zoltán Szekely from piano version), Sz. 56, BB 68: Buciumeana
14. Romanian Folk Dances (7) for violin & piano (arranged by Zoltán Szekely from piano version), Sz. 56, BB 68: Poarga româneasca
15. Romanian Folk Dances (7) for violin & piano (arranged by Zoltán Szekely from piano version), Sz. 56, BB 68: Maruntel (Quick Dance)

Disc: 4
01. Sonata for violin & piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 80: 1. Andante assai
02. Sonata for violin & piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 80: 2. Allegro brusco
03. Sonata for violin & piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 80: 3. Andante
04. Sonata for violin & piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 80: 4. Allegrissimo
05. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in D major, Op. 94 bis: 1. Moderato
06. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in D major, Op. 94 bis: 2. Scherzo: Presto
07. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in D major, Op. 94 bis: 3. Andante
08. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in D major, Op. 94 bis: 4. Allegro con brio
09. Melodies (5) for violin & piano, Op. 35 bis: 1. Andante
10. Melodies (5) for violin & piano, Op. 35 bis: 2. Lento, ma non troppo
11. Melodies (5) for violin & piano, Op. 35 bis: 3. Animato, ma non allegro
12. Melodies (5) for violin & piano, Op. 35 bis: 4. Allegretto leggero e scherzando
13. Melodies (5) for violin & piano, Op. 35 bis: 5. Andante non troppo

Disc: 5
01. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in G major: 1. Allegretto
02. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in G major: 2. Blues: Moderato
03. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in G major: 3. Perpetuum mobile: Allegro
04. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in E minor (‘Epic’), Op. 57: 1. Introduzione: Allegro
05. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in E minor (‘Epic’), Op. 57: 2. Scherzo: Allegro molto vivace e leggero
06. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in E minor (‘Epic’), Op. 57: 3. Andante con moto
07. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in E minor (‘Epic’), Op. 57: 4. Finale: Allegro molto

Disc: 6
01. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: I. Pezzo elegiaco: Moderato assai – Allegro giusto
02. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: I. Pezzo elegiaco: Adagio con duolo e ben sostenuto
03. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Thema (Andante con moto)
04. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Variazione I
05. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Variazione II (Più mosso)
06. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Variazione III (Allegro moderato)
07. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Variazione IV (L’istesso tempo)
08. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Variazione V (L’istesso tempo)
09. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Variazione VI (Tempo di valse)
10. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Variazione VII (Allegro moderato)
11. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Variazione VIII (Fuga)
12. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Variazione IX (Andante flebile
13. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Variazione X (Tempo di mazurka)
14. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. A: Thema con variazioni. Variazione XI (Moderato)
15. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. B: Variazione finale e coda. (Allegro risoluto e con fuoco)
16. Piano Trio in A minor (‘In Memory of a Great Artist’), Op. 50: II. B: Variazione finale e coda. Andante con moto
17. Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67: 1. Andante – Moderato
18. Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67: 2. Allegro non troppo
19. Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67: 3. Largo
20. Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67: 4. Allegretto

Disc: 7
01. Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K. 216: 1. Allegro
02. Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K. 216: 2. Adagio
03. Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K. 216: 3. Rondeau (Allegro)
04. Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 211: 1. Allegro moderato
05. Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 211: 2. Andante
06. Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 211: 3. Rondeau (Allegro)
07. Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major (‘Turkish’) K. 219: 1. Allegro aperto
08. Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major (‘Turkish’) K. 219: 2. Adagio
09. Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major (‘Turkish’) K. 219: 3. Rondeau (Tempo di menuetto)

Disc: 8
01. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35: 1. Allegro moderato
02. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35: 2. Canzonetta: Andante
03. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35: 3. Finale: Allegro vivacissimo
04. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: 1. Allegro moderato
05. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: 2. Adagio di molto
06. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: 3. Allegro

Disc: 9
01. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 (published as Op. 99): 1. Nocturne: Moderato
02. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 (published as Op. 99): 2. Scherzo: Allegro
03. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 (published as Op. 99): 3. Passacaglia: Andante
04. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 (published as Op. 99): Cadenza –
05. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 (published as Op. 99): 4. Burlesque: Allegro con brio – Presto
06. Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63: 1. Allegro moderato
07. Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63: 2. Andante assai
08. Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63: 3. Allegro, ben marcato

Disc: 10
01. Symphonie espagnole, for violin and orchestra in D minor, Op. 21: 1. Allegro non troppo
02. Symphonie espagnole, for violin and orchestra in D minor, Op. 21: 2. Scherzando: Allegro molto
03. Symphonie espagnole, for violin and orchestra in D minor, Op. 21: 3. Intermezzo: Allegretto non troppo
04. Symphonie espagnole, for violin and orchestra in D minor, Op. 21: 4. Andante
05. Symphonie espagnole, for violin and orchestra in D minor, Op. 21: 5. Rondo
06. Poème, for violin & orchestra, Op. 25
07. Tzigane, rhapsodie de concert, for violin & piano (or orchestra)

[+] 10½-Hour Repin Playing of Perfect Purity (2011 Christmas Gift Set I)

The case of parallel backgrounds of Vadim Repin and Maxim Vengerov is almost as peculiar as that of Freni and Pavarotti: Repin and Vengerov were both born in Novosibirsk, shared the same teacher in Zakhar Bron and even played together in their teens (there is a delightful and easily found clip on YouTube). Although Repin is three years Vengerov’s senior and was the youngest-ever winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 1989, Vengerov was the first to become an international star, landing a recording contract with Teldec in the early 1990s. This helps explain why Repin for long was overshadowed by Vengerov, something that may have changed with Repin’s DG contract and Vengerov’s lingering arm injury.

I immediately fell in love with Venergov’s uniquely large and fat sound, capable of creating a rare sense of intensity of expression. It took longer to appreciate the marvellous purity and refinement of Repin’s sound, not quite as intense but often even more ravishing and above all more varied. Taken together, Repin and Vengerov represent everything one may wish to find in a violinist. Hence, the 10-disc Repin and 11-disc Vengerov box sets are ideal Christmas gifts–especially when available at some outrageously inexpensive £20 each in the UK (Presto Classical).

For me, the Repin set was the ultimate bargain as I owned few of his early recordings on Erato. If the Vengerov set is dominated by concertos, the Repin set rather emphasises chamber music. They overlap only in four concertos, which makes for interesting comparison: the Tchaikovsky and the Sibelius, where both are about equally great (my reference in the former is Repin’s 2002 live recording with Gergiev); and the Prokofiev Second and the Shostakovich First, where Vengerov is somewhat lethargic in the former and Repin lacking in intensity in the latter.

Disc #1 is a compilation of showpieces for violin and piano, featuring Alexander Markovich, where Repin’s combination of effortless virtuosity and perfect purity is nearly inhuman (although the repertoire itself is of limited lasting interest). Disc #2 was recorded live at the Louvre in Paris together with Boris Berezovksy in an inspired performance Debussy’s Violin Sonata, with Ralf Gothoni in Schubert’s largely uninteresting ‘Grand Duo’, and with Anton Barachovsky in Prokofiev’s peculiar Sonata for Two Violins (plus two encores).

Discs #3-6 demonstrate the great partnership between Repin and Berezovsky, which generated some reference performances–above all the Violin Sonatas of Debussy and Ravel as well as the D-major Violin Sonata and Five Melodies of Prokofiev. In Prokofiev’s F-minor Violin Sonata, one of his supreme masterpieces, some of the tragic despair is discounted for fluency. Medtner’s Third Violin Sonata may not quite be a masterpiece but Repin and Berezovsky almost convince you otherwise; they are just as convincing in the Strauss Sonata, if not as romantically sweet as Chung/Zimerman. In the Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich Piano Trios, they are joined by Dmitry Yablonsky in performances that challenge all others both on virtuosity and elegiac expression; even if they allow themselves a cut in the Variazione finale, they keep Tchaikovsky’s partly inspired, partly lapsing score together with rare conviction.

Discs #7-10 focus on concertante works conducted by Menuhin, Krivine and Nagano. Mozart’s Violin Concertos certainly are not my cup of tea, although Repin’s execution does sound ideal. He infuses remarkable subtlety into the Tchaikovsky and Sibelius warhorses, particularly in the slow movements, without sacrificing any brilliance in the Finales. Repin’s reading of the most tragically beautiful of Violin Concertos, the Shostakovich First, comes out somewhat rushed and superficial compared to my favourite versions from Mordkovitch, Vengerov and Chang; the coupling of the Prokofiev Second is about as good as Mordkovitch’s reference performance. The last disc gives positively sparkling versions of Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, Chausson’s Poème and Ravel’s Tzigane–the latter of which features the best possible combination of gypsy vulgarity and pure refinement (Vengerov gives a bit too much of the former in his subsequent EMI recording).

Erato’s recordings are very good throughout, especially in the chamber works. In the orchestral works, though, Teldec generally offers Vengerov a trifle more fullness and transparency. As a compilation of great Violin Sonatas and Concertos, played with perfect purity and musicality, this box set is far more than an impassable Christmas bargain.