Sibelius - Violin Concerto /De Falla - Nights in the Gardens of Spain
Sibelius's solitary concerto is one of the most passionate tests for the  violin virtuoso, one to which Maxim Vengerov is more than equal. He captures the  work's passion and its occasional quirky patches of the spookily sublime. His  performances of the "Sarabande" from the Bach Second Partita and the "Ballade"  from Ysaye's Third Sonata are admirable encores demonstrating his range and his  elegant control. Daniel Barenboim's piano performance of the de FallaNights  in the Gardens of Spainis equally virtuosic, bringing out the work's  structure as well as its local color. Placido Domingo's conducting is solid and   serviceable. Barenboim ends the concert with three de Falla orchestral    showstoppers--the "Farruca" fromThe Three-Cornered Hatand the "Magic  Circle" and "Ritual Fire Dance" fromLove the Magician. The Chicago  Symphony perform throughout with their usual vigor and fine orchestral color,  but are particularly remarkable in these three encores.--Roz Kaveney,  Amazon.co.uk