Depending on your tastes, this disc with
Yuri Bashmet directing the
Moscow Soloists may or may not contain first choice performances of these three well-loved string serenades by
Grieg,
Mozart, and
Tchaikovsky. Those who prefer
Herbert von Karajan and the
Berliner Philharmoniker's lushly sensuous readings or
Neville Marriner and the
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields' elegantly graceful accounts may not go for these. The Moscow chamber orchestra lacks the weight of the Berlin orchestra and the brilliance of the English orchestra, and
Bashmet possesses neither the focused intensity of
Karajan nor the sprightly tempos of
Marriner.
But for those who do not already know those recordings,
Bashmet and his Moscow players' recordings may seem near to ideal. Their
Grieg is lilting and lyrical with plenty of energy. Their
Mozart is bouncy and buoyant with lots of enthusiasm. And their
Tchaikovsky is best of all with beautifully turned phrasing, warmly sculpted sonorities, and exactly the right balance between architectural form and expressive content. A former violist turned conductor,
Bashmet's attention to detail is wonderful and his ability to keep things moving forward even in slow movements enviable. And while the Moscow players may lack weight and brilliance, they have a rich tone, a posed ensemble, and so much obvious affection for the music that their playing rivals that of their better known competitors. Captured in cool but clear sound by Onyx, this disc will more than satisfy those who don't already know them and more than gratify those who do.