Brahms: Violin Concerto / Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante
David Oistrakh recorded the Brahms several times. This one is a great performance in 1960 sound that holds up well. The combination of a crack French orchestra, a German conductor known for granitelike solidity, and the intense Russian violinist strikes sparks. Oistrakh plays with fire dampened by a big tone that moves easily between ineffable sweetness and molten heat. Klemperer and the orchestra match him throughout, and the Adagio is especially striking in its emotional depth. In the Mozart, from 1972, the violinist switches to the viola and directs the Berlin Philharmonic, while son Igor takes the violin part. The result is one of the best recordings of this masterpiece. The two play with spirit, breathing and phrasing as one, while David's big viola sound and expert playing indicate he's as much at home on that instrument as on the fiddle. The orchestral part is a huge plus here; the BPO's warm sound and detailed playing are outstanding.--Dan Davis