Is violinist
Julia Fischer in the same league as
David Oistrakh in her recording of
Brahms' Violin Concerto? Are
Fischer and cellist
Daniel Müller-Schott in the same league as
Oistrakh and
Mstislav Rostropovich in their recording of
Brahms' Double Concerto? No:
Oistrakh and
Rostropovich are playing big, muscular, and heroic music while
Fischer and
Müller-Schott are playing intimate, sensuous, and lyrical music.
Fischer's tone is lovely, her technique is impeccable, but best of all his interpretation of the Violin Concerto is sweet, smiling, and joy-filled.
Müller-Schott's tone is warm, his technique is impressive, but best of all his interpretation of the Double Concerto with
Fischer sounds like a love duet from an Othello written by a German. Together with the lush and enveloping accompaniment of the
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Amsterdam led by
Yakov Kreizberg,
Fischer and
Müller-Schott turn in performances that aren't in the same league as
Oistrakh and
Rostropovich -- they're in a wonderfully seductive league of their own. PentaTone's super audio digital sound is rich, full, deep, and just about real.