GREAT RECORDINGS phase 13

PROKOFIEV: VIOLIN CONCERTOS
Nos.1 & 2
VIOLIN SONATA No.2
David Oistrakh
London Symphony Orchestra/
Lovro von Matacic
Philharmonia Orchestra/Alceo Galliera
Vladimir Yampolsky

5 62888 2
(Angel: 5 62889 2)

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'Oistrakh's style suits the lyricism of the Prokofiev Concertos and his performances are entirely convincing, while this recording of the Second Sonata is as near definitive as anyone has a right to expect. If you admire Oistrakh's violin playing (and who doesn't?) this disc will bring perennial delight.' (Gramophone)

The Ukrainian violinist David Oistrakh (1908-1974) was one of the greatest violinists of his time and the most characteristic representative of the Russian school of violin playing. He was born in Odessa, where from an early age he studied with Pyotr Stolyarsky. After graduating from the Odessa Conservatory, he made his debuts in Leningrad and Moscow in 1928 and 1929.

Success in competitions (particularly the Wieniawski in 1935 and the Ysaÿe in 1937) launched a career that was interrupted by war service in Leningrad. From 1945 his reputation grew both in Russia and abroad and his already extensive repertoire was expanded by works written for him, not least by Shostakovich, Khachaturian and Prokofiev.

This CD concentrates on Prokofiev and features Oistrakh's famous EMI recordings, made in London, of the two violin concertos: the first written when the composer was a 22-year-old enfant terrible and the second, more lyrical and less spiky, 20 years later. Oistrakh himself collaborated with Prokofiev on the fine arrangement of the composer's Flute Sonata.