For many listeners, violinist
Ilya Kaler is likely to be one of the best violinists they've never heard of. Although he has made several successful recordings on the Naxos label, the majority of his career has been spent in other endeavors. Most notably, he has been a gold medal winner in the Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, and Paganini competitions.
Kaler is also an extremely active concertizer and educator, holding positions at the Eastman and Indiana schools of music. The axiom that those who can, do, and those who can't, teach, is thrown quickly to the wind with
Kaler. The present recording of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with
Dmitry Yablonsky and the
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra is quite exceptional.
Kaler's sound is robust across the range of his instrument, but the lower register is particularly velvety and sensual. His attention to dynamics is captivating, with pianos almost impossibly soft and fortes that are powerful without ever being forced. Pacing and nuance of rhythm in the second movement are enchanting. The third movement, while not quite as sprightly as the fiendish tempo set by
Joshua Bell, is still quite crisp and exciting. The orchestral accompaniment is equally as sensitive, dynamic, and well-rehearsed as
Kaler's own playing. This is absolutely an album to check out for anyone unfamiliar with this unsung virtuoso.