Credits:

David Oistrakh, Alexander Goldenweiser, Zara Levina.

Description:

A collection of recordings for Melodia, including Oistrakh's only recording of Bach unaccompanied works, now hard to find! There is no doubt that David Oistrakh (1908-1974), born in Odessa (now Ukraine), was a giant among 20th century violinists, and Biddulph is proud to present a selection of his Melodia recordings that are either unavailable or difficult to find. Biddulph has selected some of Oistrakh's melodia recordings that have not been reissued or are difficult to find, and has released them on CD. Oistrakh's repertoire spanned the Classical and Romantic periods, but he recorded only one recording of Bach's Sonata No. 1 for unaccompanied violin, and his performance of Bach's music was "too rigorous. He said of Bach's music, "I must not be too strict or too emotional," and this reissue is a valuable sonic testimony of his approach. In Metonel's Sonata No. 3, a lengthy work that takes 45 minutes to perform, the co-stars are also noteworthy. Alexandre Golidenveizel (1875-1961), born in Bessarabia, now Moldova, was a pianist and composer who studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Giloti and others, became friends with Rachmaninoff, and later trained Feinberg, Nikolaeva, Bellman, Kapustin and others. He took Metonel's highly demanding piano part, and was an equal partner to Oistrakh. This is a monumental recording of this piece.Zahra Levina (1906-76) was a Crimean-born composer and pianist with whom Oistrakh had been in contact since his days in Odessa. Sonata No. 1 is a three-movement work in rapid, slow, and rapid form, lasting a little over 15 minutes. The solemn slow movement contrasts with the humorous, rapid tempo finale. The booklet includes an 8-page biography of Oistrakh by Tully Potter and rare photos provided by Oistrakh's grandson, Valery Oistrakh. Naxos Japan