Isaac Stern’s 60th Anniversary - Zuckerman Perlman Mehta NY Philharmonic
[IM 36692]

CBS Records Master Sound Audiophile Pressing 1981

This Isaac Stern 60th birthday celebration was broadcast over PBS for the opening concert of Live From Lincoln Center’s 5th season. The matchless musicianship, excitement of live performance, friendship and musical sympathy between the performers, and the warm interpretation of these great pieces make for a listening experience that will touch your heart and soul. Although there are many excellent recordings of the Bach double concerto, I’ve never heard any that approach the warmth and emotion of this performance. The second movement alone is worth the price of this album. Great musicians brought together for a live performance or studio recording don’t always equal good ensemble playing, but here we have wonderful ensemble playing, as these great musicians balance each other very well. “Essential listening” and “must-have” are overused cliches, but they well apply here. You might also want to get the video of Schubert’s “Trout” quintet, filmed live in 1969, with Perlman,violin, Zukerman on viola, Daniel Barenboim, piano, Jacqueline DuPre, cello, and on string bass - Zubin Mehta. It shows another rare moment in time when great musicians who were also great friends were brought together for a public performance.

By Peter Kasin

Side 1.

1. Concerto in D minor for Two Violins and Orchestra, BWV 1043/I. Vivace (Instrumental) Isaac Stern;Zubin Mehta;New York Philharmonic;Itzhak Perlman 3:51
2. Concerto in D minor for Two Violins and Orchestra, BWV 1043/II. Largo, ma non tanto (Instrumental) Isaac Stern;Zubin Mehta;New York Philharmonic;Itzhak Perlman 6:58
3. Concerto in D minor for Two Violins and Orchestra, BWV 1043/III. Allegro (Instrumental) Isaac Stern;Zubin Mehta;New York Philharmonic;Itzhak Perlman 5:09
4. Concerto in F Major for Three Violins and Orchestra, RV 551 (F. I, No. 34, P. 278)/I. Allegro (Instrumental) Isaac Stern;Zubin Mehta;New York Philharmonic;Pinchas Zukerman;Itzhak Perlman 4:39
5. Concerto in F Major for Three Violins and Orchestra, RV 551 (F. I, No. 34, P. 278)/II. Andante (Instrumental) Isaac Stern;Zubin Mehta;New York Philharmonic;Pinchas Zukerman;Itzhak Perlman 2:16
6. Concerto in F Major for Three Violins and Orchestra, RV 551 (F. I, No. 34, P. 278)/III. Allegro (Instrumental) Isaac Stern;Zubin Mehta;New York Philharmonic;Pinchas Zukerman;Itzhak Perlman 3:30

Side 2.

7. Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, K. 364/I. Allegro maestoso (Instrumental) Zubin Mehta;Pinchas Zukerman;New York Philharmonic;Isaac Stern 13:27
8. Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, K. 364/II. Andante (Instrumental) Zubin Mehta;Pinchas Zukerman;New York Philharmonic;Isaac Stern 11:46
9. Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, K. 364/III. Presto (Instrumental) Zubin Mehta;Pinchas Zukerman;New York Philharmonic;Isaac Stern 6:45

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