RECORDING OF THE MONTH RECORDING OF THE MONTH BARGAIN OF THE MONTH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A London Symphony Oboe Concerto £11 post free World-wide RACHMANINOV Elegy, Preludes, Piano concerto 3 £12 post free World-wide CHAUSSON, DEBUSSY RACHMANINOV TRios 2CDs £16 post free World-wide

BUY NOW  Crotchet   AmazonUK   AmazonUS

Frank Huang Violin recital: Violin Fantasies Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Fantasy for Violin and Piano in C major, D. 934, Op. 159 (1827) Heinrich Wilhelm ERNST (1814-1865) Fantaisie brillante sur l'opéra 'Otello' de Rossini, Op. 11 (c.1839) Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Phantasy for Violin with Piano Accompaniment, Op. 47 (1949) Franz WAXMAN (1906-1967) Carmen Fantasy (1947), based on themes from Bizet’s Opera: Carmen Frank Huang (violin) Dina Vainstein (piano) Rec. Country Day School, Performing Art Centre, King City, Ontario, Canada 17-19 July 2002. DDD NAXOS Laureate Series: 8.557121 [57:18]

The one-time child prodigy and award winning violinist Frank Huang is working hard to establish himself on the international stage. On this Naxos release in their Laureate Series Huang is showing his impeccable credentials in a recital of four violin fantasies. Huang seems particularly well suited to the demands of Schoenberg’s Phantasy for Violin with Piano Accompaniment which was composed in 1949 in the composer’s serial style using twelve tone rows. It was his final instrumental work. In contrast the soloist does not seem so comfortable in the substantial Schubert Fantasy for Violin and Piano in C major, from 1827 and seems unable to offer the necessary warmth and spirit that this Romantic work requires. The 1839 Fantaisie brillante sur l'opéra 'Otello' de Rossini, from Ernst is the least impressive composition on this release though soloist Frank Huang tries his best to raise the work from its mediocrity. The final work is Waxman’s sparkling and ultra-melodic Carmen Fantasy based on themes from Carmen. It formed part of the soundtrack for the 1946 movie Humoresque. Huang gives a fine if rather cautious performance of this exuberant work but his undoubted virtuosity pales when compared to the leading performers such as Maxim Vengerov with whom he now has to compete on an exceedingly cramped world stage. The sound quality of this Naxos release is acceptable but what comes across is a rather thin violin tone robbed of some of its timbre. It would have benefited from a warmer recording with the player placed further forward. A fine recital from a talented young soloist that will provide pleasure but will undoubtedly appeal more to the specialist collector of the violin repertoire. Michael Cookson Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

Return to Index

Reviews from previous months Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer.