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Sarasate's Carmen: Which Vinyl Version?

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mcguirek

A

Last night I heard Rachel Barton Pine play Sarasate's 'Carmen Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra' (and Saint-Sa�ns 'Introduction and Rondo capriccioso for Violin and Orchestra') with our Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. The performance was superb.

Now I would like to add Sarasate's Carmen to my vinyl collection and both Ricci's version and Perlman's have received great reviews. Trying to find an original album of Ricci's is difficult and expensive however there is a Speakers Corner version available. Perlman's performance is available on Hi-Q records also at a reasonable cost.

Which one of these - combination of performance and reissue label - would you choose? Or is there a better performance that is available? Thanks.

Follow Ups:

UPDATE: Sarasate's Carmen: Which Vinyl Version? - mcguirek 16:44:54 05/29/12 (2)
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned I heard Rachel Barton Pine play Sarasate's 'Carmen Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra' with our Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Roberto Minczuk. Ms. Pine used her 1742 �ex-Soldat� violin by Guarneri del Gesu.

Today I played the Hi-Q reissue LP of Itzhak Perlman and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (from a 1971 performance); this performance had received a Rosette in the Penguin Guide. The pressing was very quiet with great dynamics and sound but I was less enthralled by the performance. Yes it was very good, but after having heard Ms. Rachel Barton Pine it was a bit of a letdown. Now, it may be that the visual effect, plus the sound, of a live performance created more of a "feeling" than a recording however I think there were also some musical differences.

I think Ms. Pine applied much more texture to the string tone: She had said pre-concert that she likes her characters to be full. I think also that the sound of the orchestra was nicely balanced with her violin; the Guarneri more than holding its own, with her playing reaching the heavens.

If you ever get a chance to hear this fabulous musician you MUST.
- RE: UPDATE: Sarasate's Carmen: Which Vinyl Version? - Kal Rubinson 17:00:06 05/29/12 (1)
  On vinyl, there's Ricci, Heifetz and Francescatti but, if you can deal with other than vinyl, this is your obvious choice:
  - Homage to Pablo de Sarasate (Open in New Window)
  - great disc, but.... - Kas 11:19:46 05/31/12 (0)
    ... the Rachel Barton CD (recorded pre-hyphen) is with piano accompaniment, rather than orchestra.
    
    I really like Ricci in this music, but as I recall, Rosand is pretty good, too:
    - Carmen Fantasy with Aaron Rosand (Open in New Window)
interesting timing - docw 13:09:35 05/14/12 (5)
My young teen is learning the Saint Saens, and she says, about the Saint Saens, though:
(youtube) Perlman, Heifetz and Stern, again, Perlman, Heifetz and Stern.

I often play Sophie-Mutter, but Sarah Chang does a great job on DVD w Berlin and Domingo conducting live.

Same players on digital for Carmen. Also, I have heard Heifetz' old version. Don't know about others, not researched.

How much does it cost to buy the Perlman?
I always like to search for original (inexpensive) LP's, but might bite for my kid as a gift.
- RE: interesting timing - Pat D 15:51:37 05/16/12 (3)
  She might like Francescatti for the Saint Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. It is my favorite of all those I have heard, not to denigrate Perlman, Heifetz and Stern, among others. Heifetz/Steinberg on YT us sublime. Still, for me, Francescatti is magical in this piece.
  -----
  "A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser
  - Francescatti/Bernstein NYP (Open in New Window)
  - RE: interesting timing - docw 16:03:05 05/17/12 (2)
    funny, I got an old Columbia 6 eye mono Francescatti (Ormandy) yesterday, used for about $2, looks ok, a bit dirty. Will have to wash it and listen.
    
    Thanks for responding to the post.
    - RE: interesting timing - Pat D 14:45:07 05/22/12 (1)
      I finally was able to get into the music room to find my recording, which is with Ormandy, on an LP, along with Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen, Chausson's Poeme, and Sain-Saens' Havanaise. Columbia Special Products P 14209. We babysit a toddler granddaughter and had her for the weekend while her parents were on a canoe trip--great fun. So her toys are naturally kept in the music room, where else? But I got in there today and retrieved it so I could play it. Nice, of course.
      -----
      "A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser
      - RE: interesting timing - docw 17:06:29 05/22/12 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: interesting timing posted by Pat D on May 22, 2012 at 14:45:07
        
        I bit the bullet and dry brushed and played the Intro and RC, very good performance, not very flamboyant, and the sound of the 6 eye was quite good, and LP had some scuffs, but minimal surface noise.
- RE: interesting timing - mcguirek 15:40:40 05/14/12 (0)
  Hi docw, the Perlman LP is $34.99 at Elusive Disc and probably many other places. See web site appended.
  - http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HIQLP015 (Open in New Window)
RE: Sarasate's Carmen: Which Vinyl Version? - rbolaw 11:01:29 05/14/12 (2)
With all due respect to Ricci, you really can't beat Perlman in his youthful prime in music like this. It's nice to know that an audiophile reissue label has issued that on LP. I think the original dates back to the early 70s.
- RE: Sarasate's Carmen: Which Vinyl Version? - mcguirek 15:45:44 05/14/12 (1)
  Well I decided to buy both albums. The Perlman received the most enthusiastic recommendations - and has a Rosette in the Penguin guide - so that was easy. The Ricci, though, also has nice accompanying selections so I thought I would take that one also. It'll be fun to listen to both versions.
  - good idea -- enjoy! nt - rbolaw 16:16:58 05/14/12 (0)

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