Violin Concertos BWV 1041-1043
Elizabeth Wallfisch (Violin)
Violin concertos by Elizabeth Wallfisch

Violin concertos by Elizabeth Wallfisch

Kirk McElhearn wrote (April 29, 2002):
If you remember, a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned a sale on the Virgin Veritas X2 series at a French on-line dealer.

I picked up several of them, including the Violin Concertos by Wallfisch. This is a brilliant recording, full of energy and rhythm. I have been almost tapping my feet (which is hard, since I work in a knee-chair), but she has amazing energy and vigor. While there are a few bits that annoy me - a lack of legato at times that is jarring - overall this set is brilliant, and probably the best I have heard yet.

I think Brad praised this set; anyone else familiar with it?

Feedback to the Review

Pete Blue wrote (April 29, 2002):
[To Kirk McElhearn] I agree with your assessment of Elizabeth Wallfisch's Violin Concertos. However, I also urge you to audition (or re-audition) the recording by Sigiswald Kuijken, Lucy Van Dael and La Petite Bande on Deutsche Harmonia Mundi. Incomparably sweet and pure, and after many many listenings still the most affecting version I have heard.

I seem to be a minority of one on this List in my enthusiasm for Wallfisch's Solo Violin S&P, which I have brought up here twice before. Rhythmically alive like her Violin Concertos, and wonderfully, uncompromisingly austere (reminding me of Helmut Walcha in the organ works) -- the polar opposite of the juicy Lara St. John.

Kirk McElhearn wrote (April 29, 2002):
Pete Blue wrote:
< I agree with your assessment of Elizabeth Wallfisch's Violin Concertos. However, I also urge you to audition (or re-audition) the recording by Sigiswald Kuijken, Lucy Van Dael and La Petite Bande on Deutsche Harmonia Mundi. Incomparably sweet and pure, and after many many listenings still the most affecting version I have heard. >
Afraid I don't have that one...

< I seem to be a minority of one on this List in my enthusiasm for Wallfisch's Solo Violin S&P, which I have brought up here twice before. Rhythmically alive like her Violin Concertos, and wonderfully, uncompromisingly austere (reminding me of Helmut Walcha in the organ works) -- the polar opposite of the juicy Lara St. John. >
The St. John recording (of the concertos) is more a violinist and accompaniment, whereas the Wallfisch has much more interplay between the two. I don't have here S&P. I'll go look for it...

Kirk McElhearn wrote (April 29, 2002):
I don't find it on my usual CD vendor's site. What's the label?

Piotr Jaworski wrote (April 29, 2002):
[To Kirk McElhearn] I can't recall if I add this set to my own list of recommendations
(quite long one) - probably I had to, since I also like it very, very much.

The most favourite one? Almost, but certainly among three ones released to-date .. from the complete cycles from the same artists.

Riccardo Nughes wrote (April 29, 2002):
[To Kirk McElhearn] Virgin, but I think it's out of print.

Piotr Jaworski wrote (April 29, 2002):
[To Kirk McElhearn] The label is ONE and THE ONLY - HYPERION! ;-)

Available under the 'dyad' series - CDD 22009

Kirk McElhearn wrote (April 29, 2002):
[To Piotr Jaworski] Thanks.

Philip Peters wrote (April 29, 2002):
[To Pete Blue] I like Kuijken/Van Dael infinitely better than Wallfisch. But best of all IMO is Manze/Podger on HM. I find this almost the perfect recording which also offers BWV 1060.

Riccardo Nughes wrote (April 29, 2002):
< Virgin, but I think it's out of print. >
Ops! I made some confusion with the Monica Huggett set...

Santu de Silva wrote (April 29, 2002):
[To Kirk McElhearn] Yes, I have them, and yes, I do like them very much.

I like her somewhat better than Monica Huggett, but I haven't done any careful comparisons that support that.

Francine Renee Hall wrote (April 29, 2002):
There's a lovely 3-CD set on Hyperion (of course, Piotr!) with Elizabeth Wallfisch playing Locatelli's "L'Arte del Violino" with The Raglan Baroque Players directed by Nicholas Kraemer. (CDA66721/3). Absolutely beautiful as well as the recorded sound. It wouldn't surprise me if Hyperion re-issued it at a lower price. I'm not sure about this.

Francine Renee Hall wrote (April 29, 2002):
[To Kirk McElhearn] You say you 'almost' tap your feet. Hey, I tap mine all the time! And when I really get going, I'll dance too!

Bradley Lehman wrote (April 30, 2002):
[To Philip Peters] I agree, Philip. I'd choose both the Kuijken set and the Manze/Podger (and Biondi's) ahead of Wallfisch.

Not that there's anything "wrong" with Wallfisch's recording (I have only half the twofer, the original Virgin 45095 of BWV 1056/1060/1052/1055), I'm just more moved by the others. And by the BWV 1055 by Andreas Lorenz with Güttler conducting the Virtuosi Saxoniae. That one is a gem, Berlin Classics 11512.

Piotr Jaworski wrote (April 29, 2002):
[To Francine Renee Hall] I'd go even further with my expectations - since Hyperion didn't re-release any of EW Locatelli recordings yet - I wish they will pack 'em one day all into one nice box - all the issued concertos and sonatas ( hmm.. eight discs!). Competition is on it's way - the very latest recording of "'L'Arte dell Violino" by Giuliano Carmignola and Venice Baroque Orchestra (with excerpts only) looks as another in the series of spectacular recordings from these artists. I bet that Hyperion will strike back! ;-)

Jim Morrison wrote (April 30, 2002):
I was just looking at the line-ups of La Petite Band's Bach Violin Concertos and Orchestral Suites, both recorded in the early 80s, and I was surprised to see how the personal differed. Much of it reminded the same, but hare some of the changes.

Lucy van Dael plays on the violin concertos but not on the orchestral suites.

Wieland Kuijken plays on the violin concertos but not on the orchestral suites.

Ruth Hesseling plays viola on the violin concertos but in the second violins in the orchestral suites.

Hans Woudenberg, of Schoenberg Ensemble fame, plays on the orchestral suites, but not at all on the violin concertos.

(Other Schoenberg Ensemble connections include Jan van der Meer, Richte van der Meer (relatives?) on Verklarte Nacht, Hans Woudenberg, S. Kuijken on Verklarte Nacht, and Nicholas Pap. Interesting, no, to see so many faces playing such great Bach and Schoenberg? Jan van der Meer also plays violin in the Schoenberg Quartet.)

One last La Petite Band tidbit. Bob van Asperen plays harpsichord on the violin concertos, but is replaced by Robert Kohnen on the orchestral suites, but both play a 1974 Dowd.

These two sets are excellent and aren't to be missed. By the way, B. Kuijken plays flute in the orchestral suites, along with Pol Dombrecht and Bruce Haynes in the oboe section.

Concertos for Violin & Orchestra BWV 1041-1043: Details
Recordings:
Reviews of Individual Recordings: Review: The Concerto Album by Lara St. John | Violin concertos by Elizabeth Wallfisch
General Discussions: Part 1

Elizabeth Wallfisch: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works
Reviews of Instrumental Recordings: Violin concertos by Elizabeth Wallfisch

Catherine Mackintosh: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works
Reviews of Instrumental Recordings: Violin concertos by Elizabeth Wallfisch