Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto,Op.35 / Dvorak: Romance,Op.11 / Sibelius: Concerto,Op.47 ~ Leinsdorf / Perlman
The young Itzhak Perlman was as impressively virtuoso as the more mature and thoughtful artist he has become; these first versions of the Tchaikovsky and Sibelius concertos are flashy and passionate, and none the worse for that. Both are, in a real sense, works about showing off: Tchaikovsky was creating a showcase for a performer he rather liked, and Sibelius was making his way in the world as a soloist--there is something to be said for performances that remind us of that. Leinsdorf, always a generous conductor when working with soloists, gives Perlman his lead; these are big performances that find the right balance between speed and delicacy. They are, after all, works in which the violin engages in dialogue with the full resources of the Romantic orchestra as an equal partner. The Dvorak Romance makes an attractive filler, intelligently placed to clear the palate between two rich works.--Roz Kaveney