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Posts: 2717
Location: Zardoz
Joined: March 9, 2004
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The Szeryng performances are not exactly top tier. Actually, no, let's be honest. Szeryng's recordings on that SACD are really not recommendable.
First of all, the cadenzas that Szerygn chose just don't cut it. I suppose he was trying to differentiate himself from other violinists of the era, but his choice of cadenzas relegates these recordings to the "supplemental" category.
Second, Szeryng just didn't play very well in these recording sessions. I'm not sure what his problem was. The recordings were made when he was in his late 50s, so age should not have been the explanation. But there's a lot of scratching and slurring going on here. It lacks precision and sizzle.
The audio is good, remastered. But remember it is from an old recording to begin with, so it's not like this is an SACD quality recording made in recent years. When one accounts for the off-target cadenzas and the rather poor performances, I would not go that route.
For performance of the 1st concerto, Kogan, Rabin, Francescatti and Menuhin are all splendid, each offering enough difference to be uniquely satisfying. I also love the amazing fire of Tretykov, who paired with Jarvi on a couple of recordings. All of those recordings overshadow more recent ones by people like Hillary Hahn and Sarah Chang. Unfortunately, the audio of all those recordings is not going to knock you over.
Perlman's recording of the 1st Concerto from the 1980s has been remastered by EMI and that is the one I would recommend for that concerto alone. It is a very good performance and the remastered audio is good. If you want the entire set, opt for Accardo, who is technically excellent and really is very good in this repertoire.
Now, for an alternative -- something to supplement the standard take on Paganini, I would not go with Szeryng, I would go this route:
The recordings I am enjoying most these days are by Massimo Quarta. A couple of things set his recordings apart. For one, he is playing Paganini's own violin, nicknamed "The Canon", tuned the way Paganini tuned it. (That means the first concerto is today's E-flat major, for example.) The performance of the 1st is from the autograph score, not later versions with all the changes introduced over the years. Quarta has the chops to give it an excellent showing. And the audio is quite good, although not SACD.
Paganini's later concertos were not in the same league as the first and second. Quarta has recorded all of them, so if you want a completist set, go with the Accardo and the box set by Quarta. But if it's just the 1st concerto you want, well, there are many available (and I'd go with Perlman or the Accardo), but with the Quarta as the kicker.
Now, the caprices -- that's an entirely different topic.
"Life without music is a mistake" (Nietzsche)
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