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 Concerto
The Strad SELECTION
February 2007
KHACHATURIAN Violin Concerto
SHOSTAKOVICH Violin Concerto no. 1
Catherine Manoukian (violin)
Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra,
Eduard Topchjan (conductor)
This uplifting performance of Khachaturian's Violin Concerto, one of the undoubted masterpiece of the 20th century repertoire, comes from musicians associated with the
composer's homeland.
The Armenian orchestra's playing is stylish and rhythmically finessed, with some especially beguiling woodwind. Eduard Topchjan keeps his forces admirably controlled,
allowing space for the violin soloist to shine. There are vibrant and vital passages for the orchestral strings, especially after the soloist's cadenza - launched by an exquisite dialogue
with the clarinet- and in the Andante sostenuto, where middle strings play plaintively above pizzicato cellos and double basses.
Canadian-born Catherine Manoukian is an eloquent exponent of this appetising
work. Her tone is pure, with nicely understated vibrato, and her playing throughout is
gorgeously expressive. The gentle lilt of Khachaturian's high-flying melodic lines, not
least in the berceuse-like Andante, comes across almost effortlessly„ as if the violin were
floating on an oriental carpet of air, swayed here and there by gentle breezes, until the
spirited finale calls forth a more vigorous tone. All in all, a scintillatingly good performance, splendidly captured.
The Shostakovich begins in sombre vein, with atmospheric orchestral strings. The
first movement, shrouded in mystery, is brilliantly sustained. The solo line comes over admirably, not least when engaging in sad dialogue with dark lower woodwind. A gutsy Scherzo follows,
before the intense, varied Passacaglia, to which Manoukian's involvement and restraint lend added power. The prolonged cadenza is superbly executed and the jaunty closing Burlesque is brilliantly played. All in all, an exciting, beautifully recorded disc.
Marquis
RODERICK DUNNETT
"The ensemble proved to be a warm-toned, well-disciplined, highly capable body, with, in particular, a string section of burnished tonal sheen."
The New York Post
"The glory of the orchestra is its string section… This was rich, colorful,fullthroated sound, a choir of sound."
The Boston Globe
"…it played Shostakovich and the rest of its program with enormous impact."
The Washington Post
" …recordings of the three symphonies of Aram Khachaturian gives us the first comprehensive overview of Khachaturian's symphonic output. The performances are first-class and the recorded sound is what all three works have long needed."
Fanfare
(A.Khachaturian - 3 Symphonies, ASV CD)
"Many Khachaturian fans will surely take to the work overall. Brilliant playing under a conductor who is completely at home in this music, while B.C's glittering yet spacious sound is flatteringly vivid."
Gramophone
(Khachaturian- The Vidow of Valencia-Suite Gayaneh- Suite No.2
Tjeknavorian - Danses Fantastique ASV CD)
"On ASV a refreshing and totally gripping new-look recording of Scheherazade from Eastern Russia. The brilliant recording has great vividness and projection… it suites the performance admirably."
Penguin Guide
(Scheherazade - ASV CD)
"The new recording from ASV…features a passionate performance from the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.
… They have been giving outstanding concerts for 65 years and this Scheherazade is very well worth examining. A companion disc, also from ASV, brings the same forces with orchestral suites from three of Rimsky-Korsakov operas….. This is a totally magic collection of the best Rimsky-Korsakov."
"The Mail", Hartlepool
"A very enjoyable and eminently recommendable disc."
(Prokofiev:Romeo&Juliet Suites, ASV CD)
"The repertoire was obviously chosen to show the orchestra's strengths … it plays Shostakovich and the rest of its program with enormous impact."
Joseph McLellan
The Washington Post
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