GLAZUNOV: VIOLIN CONCERTO; MEDITATION, THE SEASONS - AARON ROSAND, MALAYSIAN PHILHARMONIC

Glazunov: Violin Concerto, Meditation & The Seasons

Aaron Rosand (violin)

Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels

Aaron Rosand began recording for Vox in the late 1950s. Now in his seventies, his timbre and technique are as sure as ever. Moreover Rosand's very stylish playing of the delightful Glazunov Concerto brings a sense of having lived with this music over the decades, yet returning to it as to an old friend, with no possible hint of staleness. The beguiling opening theme floats off the bow with the most engaging warmth and an easy, natural rubato, which the conductor follows admirably.
The richly shaped melody of the Andante, too, goes straight to the heart of the music: again Rosand's timbre is warm, his phrasing ravishingly lyrical. The finale dances away jauntily, its spirited rhythmic charisma echoed by the orchestra. In short, this performance is very good indeed, worthy of comparison with the finest on disc (including Vengerov, Shaham, Mutter) and, in its security of the solo line, even approaches Heifetz. The gentle, rhapsodic Meditation makes a splendid encore while the recording is admirable, with a completely natural balance.

Glazunov: Meditation, Op. 32
Glazunov: The Seasons, Op. 67
Glazunov: Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82