Joshua Bell. Kreisler, Brahms, Paganini, Sarasate, Wieniawski.

Joshua Bell showed up on my TV screen, for the New Year's concert in which he was the soloist to perform popular pieces, such as those of Fritz Kreisler. I was watching him with weary, suspicious eyes. What can this young man (notice the reverse age discrimination on my part) teach me about these old popular virtuoso pieces? How can this "kid" from Indiana soothe my nostalgia for these pieces that I associate with "the good, old Europe"?By the time the concert was over, I have found out that Joshua Bell, now Maestro Bell rather than "the kid from Indiana", not only captured, but improved these old violin favorites! I rushed immediately to order his records.On the double CD "Violin Favourites & Virtuoso Showpieces", Maestro Bell plays Kreisler, Brahms, Paganini, Sarasate, Wieniawski and other composers.This phenomenal violinist plays these pieces with an unprecedented elegance and sophistication. Most importantly, he does not suffocate his listeners with his emotions, but instead he offers a refined performance with lots of musical space for the listeners to put their five cents worth of musical emotions. He has completely rejected the idea of any schmaltz, which has unfortunately become a signature for many of these pieces. Instead, he concentrates upon and captures the intrinsic beauty of this music.I must address his virtuosity. He is so phenomenal, that I think that Paganini could not do it any better. Maestro Bell, I feel, is not really interested in dazzling his audience (although it happens automatically), but is simply exploring the limits of what violin as an instrument and he as a performer can offer. His left- and right-hand pizzicatos, double stops, harmonics, and staccatos at a very fast pace, make violin sounds so much more exciting. His virtuosity is in service of the interpretation of the pieces he plays.Listen carefully to Maestro Bell! You can hear every note separately, no matter how fast he plays. You may wonder how fast Maestro Bell can play. In my opinion, if he played any faster, my ears could not detect the separate notes! His playing deserves an Olympic Gold Medal!He plays popular pieces, such as those of Kreisler, which some listeners, who consider themselves sophisticated, look down upon. And yet, these may be the pieces that they often enjoy the most, out of the entire concert, when they are played as an encore. They would never admit it! Maestro Bell's sophisticated performance of these pieces has given such listeners an opportunity to come out of their closets and enjoy Kreisler openly. They can then join the rest of us who think that there is nothing wrong with the pretty music that many generations of listeners love.This recording is an absolute must for anybody who ever played the violin. It will make you recapture your youthful love for this beautiful instrument, which Maestro Bell shows at its best! Thank you, Maestro Bell!Needless to say, I give Maestro Bell five stars!

This twofer issued by DECCA showcases in a compelling manner the quintessence of the masterful craftsmanship of Joshua Bell. Renowned for his technical wizardry and a fine musicianship as well, Bell shines here in a spectacular virtuosity –oriented repertoire for violin (accompanied by piano). From Paganini to Kreisler (to whom the second CD is entirely devoted) , and from Wieniawski to Sarasate the utterly seductive pieces spanning the romantic gamut are lined up in a consistent recital program to feature Joshua Bell. The American violinist’s ability to convey the ardent side of his musical personality is perfectly served by such an attractive repertory. On the other hand, his insightful approach serves brilliantly the music he chose to tackle here. There is in these recordings everything you could expect from a violin virtuoso: speed, accuracy, bravura, melancholy, youthful exuberance, sharp rhythms, inspirational musicality.Note that both these CDs were recorded when Bell was a rising star (at 19 and 28, respectively), but none seems less than wondrous mementos in a magnificent world-wide career developed eventually towards the status of super-star of the classical music.

Joshua Bell's playing is simply enchanting. This recording is wonderful and I needed it as a reward after I fought the plastic case to release the two discs. The packaging - hard plastic case with a non-release hard plastic wheel in the center of the CDs - was so frustrating that I was considering breaking the case just to get the discs loose, but was worried I'd break the CDs instead, so I puzzled on with it. Luckily I figured out a way to use my scissors to pinch one of the three "teeth" that holds the disc in the case and was able to get the disc out without breaking anything. I have *never* seen a disc packaged like this before; requiring a tool to release the disc... Do I need to get out more?

Mr. Bell brings a precision to his performance of Kreisler's music, as well as a fair amount of emotion. But he falls short of the landmark late 20th century recording by Wanda Wilkomirska (accompanied on piano by Antonio Barbosa). This recording is, I believe, available only on vinyl, Connoisseur Society catalog #CS2022, released in 1971. Wilkomirska's performance strikes the perfect balance of technical mastery, showmanship, and schmaltz that Fritz's compositions demand.

I got this as a gift for a violin student of mine. I love the pieces Joshua Bell does on the CD, and I know his playing, so I know it's a fabulous CD.

I never liked violin music until I heard Joshua Bell at the Hollywood Bowl in California. Since he doesn't play there every day and his playing evokes such emotion, I bought this album. It's terrific. I would see him or hear him in a heart beat so if you really LOVE violin classical music, you will love this CD.

Like violin music & he is a very talented artist. Able to hear the tune perfectly & can tell he is putting his all into the performance. Play it as background music when I want to relax & just be!

I love the smoothness of sound that Joshua Bell has when he performs. He appears to play effortlessly. Being a string player myself, I appreciate the talent it takes to play as well as Joshua does. I thoroughly enjoy having this recording.

Ce double CD est en fait la réunion en un seul set de 2 CDs enregistrés à des dates différentes, l'enregistrement de 1986 étant le 1er enregistrement de Joshua Bell à l'âge de 19 ans, et comprenant diverses œuvres du répertoire violonistique hors Kreisler, (CD 1 ), puis un enregistrement en 1996 consacré exclusivement à Kreisler (CD 2).L'on peut acheter chaque CD séparément ... à un prix d'ailleurs supérieur au présent set de 2 CDs vendu moins de 10 € !L'expérience du Washington Post (source Wikipédia) :Le 12 janvier 2007, Joshua Bell a participé à une expérience menée par The Washington Post à une heure de pointe le matin dans le hall d'une station de métro à Washington. Cet évènement a été organisé par le journal dans le cadre d'une expérience de psychologie comportementale sur la perception, les goûts et les priorités.Joshua Bell a ainsi joué trois quarts d'heure et a pu récolter 32 dollars (pour un total de sept personnes seulement qui se sont arrêtées un instant pour l'écouter jouer, et sans compter les 20 dollars laissés par l'unique personne l'ayant reconnu).Le point-clé de cette expérience apparut lorsqu'il eut fini de jouer. En effet, il n'y eut aucune réaction, aucun applaudissement. Une seule personne l'avait reconnu. Personne ne savait que ce violoniste était célèbre, et qu'il venait de jouer sur un Stradivarius célèbre de 1713, le Gibson ex-Huberman, acheté par le violoniste quelques années auparavant 3,5 millions de dollars, ni que deux jours auparavant il avait joué au théâtre de Boston à guichet fermé pour des spectateurs qui avaient payé leur place jusqu'à 100 dollars.La conclusion du journaliste revient à se demander : « Dans un environnement ordinaire, à une heure inappropriée, sommes-nous capables de percevoir la beauté, de nous arrêter pour l'apprécier, de reconnaître le talent dans un contexte inattendu ? ». Cette expérience et surtout l'article qui fut publié valurent à son auteur, le journaliste Gene Weingarten, un Prix Pulitzer en 20083 !L'art de Joshua Bell est fait d'une grande simplicité. Il ne cultive pas le beau son de manière artificielle, simplement pour le beau son ! Ces enregistrements raviront tous les amoureux du violon, et tous les musiciens et mélomanes !

Josua Bell ist ein Virtuose in der Geige. Nicht viele können Paganini spielen. Ich nicht. Diese Musik Stücke kann man besser hören als die Leichtmusik.