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Favorite Recording of Carmen Fantasy

CD reviews: I've been searching for a great interpreation of Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy for quite some time now, so I thought I'd bring the question to the pro's (i.e. all the people on this board)

From Rachel Massey
Posted October 3, 2004 at 04:38 AM

I've been searching for a great interpretation of Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy for quite some time now, so I thought I'd bring the question to the pro's (i.e. all the people on this board). In your opinion, what is the best recording of Carmen Fantasy?

From Adam Smith
Posted on October 2, 2004 at 03:53 PM

Shaham, best recording with Abbado and Berlin Phil, I have it on VHS, Perlman comes second.

From Violin T
Posted on October 2, 2004 at 05:04 PM

Kogan.

From Carl Fulbrook
Posted on October 2, 2004 at 07:52 PM

Easily Itzhak Perlman. Seriously, no one else can play it like him.

Carl.

From Cynthia He
Posted on October 2, 2004 at 08:50 PM

I have Perlman and Sarah Chang. Both are quite good.

From David Lillis
Posted on October 2, 2004 at 09:47 PM

Leonid Kogan's version with Kirill Kondrashin and the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra (1956) is quite simply breathtaking!

Heifetz with Donald Vorhees and the RCA Victor Orchestra (1946) is technically as good, though he appears to have been farther from the mike than Kogan, so doesn't dominate the orchestra as much as Kogan.

From Sue Donim
Posted on October 2, 2004 at 11:39 PM

Perlman; my first-ever CD!

From Daniel Orenstein
Posted on October 3, 2004 at 09:21 AM

Heifetz recorded Waxman's Carmen fantasy in 1946,not Sarasate's.There's only a short excerpt of the Sarasate fantasy that he recorded in 1924..
I'm surprised nobody mentioned Aron Rosand, this piece is really one of his great success, gipsier than Perlman.

From David Lillis
Posted on October 3, 2004 at 07:53 PM

Oops! I didn't read the initial discussion thread properly and assumed we were talking about the Waxman. OK. Kogan did a beautiful Sarasate. I can get the details later if you wish.

From Lousy Violinist
Posted on October 3, 2004 at 09:12 PM

Perlman's

From Minsoo Kim
Posted on October 4, 2004 at 05:22 AM

I love Ruggiero Ricci's 59 Recording in DECCA. My version is CLASSIC SOUND but it had been re-issued as collector's edition box last year.

From Nisha Bala
Posted on October 4, 2004 at 07:41 AM

Itzhak Perlman!

From David Lillis
Posted on October 4, 2004 at 08:41 PM

OK. Kogan's Sarasate Carmen was recorded in 1950 with Vasili Nebolisin and the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchesta. Stunning, as always with Mr Kogan!

From Annie S
Posted on October 5, 2004 at 03:39 AM

I know someone already said this but Itzhak Perlman! It's incredible, I used to listen to it over and over. The piece is spotless with not one single tiny miniscule mistake. It's mind-boggling to listen to.

From Sum YL
Posted on February 24, 2005 at 02:56 PM

Hello all, It's been nearly a year since I've last posted. Anyrate, is it just me, or is the Sarasate Carmen simply overated?
Few ever play the waxman fantasy.
Sarasate's Offers a move violinistic approach
while Waxman's is a musical statement...
heifetz
and perlman...

From Rick Basil
Posted on February 24, 2005 at 05:11 PM

I have Itzhak Perlman's 1972 performance with Lawrence Foster and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on EMI, and feel Mutter (with Levine and the Vienna Philharmonic) plays with more imagination and a very convincing gypsy inflection. Also as breath taking on the same disk is her Ravel Tzigane, and Zigeunenrweisen, played with a Hungarian fire, that I've never heard captured elsewhere.

From Scott 68
Posted on February 24, 2005 at 05:39 PM

its on the kogan vhs interpretations but i think it is the waxman

From Allen Liang
Posted on February 24, 2005 at 06:00 PM

Sarah Chang's recording is quite good, but I think Anne-Sophie Mutter's DG version is the best.

From Alrick Archambault
Posted on February 25, 2005 at 01:54 AM

Definitly Shaham with Abbado and the Berlin Philarmonic

From Henry Liao
Posted on February 25, 2005 at 07:53 AM

Itzhak Perlman's is awesome. He knifes those quick double stops like butter.

From James Kim
Posted on February 25, 2005 at 04:53 PM

Not to rehash, but Perlman's earlier recording is incredible. His later one with Mehta is almost as good, but the tone isn't quite as golden, nor the playing as clean.

An interesting one is the Shaham recording with piano when he was 15. It is the only version where Perlman might be outplayed in the final movement!

From Mark L
Posted on February 25, 2005 at 05:43 PM

Mutter's is flawless, and her final movement is exhiliarating.

My favourite Carmen fantasy recording.

From Olivia Chew
Posted on February 26, 2005 at 11:54 PM

Perlman.

From Enosh Kofler
Posted on February 27, 2005 at 05:49 AM

I've only heard Perlman's and it's amazing both technically and musically. I haven't heard Mutter's but juding from her overall playing I would not at all expect to hear something I like.

From nate r
Posted on February 28, 2005 at 10:22 PM

Perlman, Heifetz

From Enosh Kofler
Posted on March 1, 2005 at 01:15 AM

I just downloaded the Heifetz version which I couldn't even find on CD. It starts at the slow part and it's really magnificent.

From nikray kowsar
Posted on April 11, 2005 at 07:39 PM

Gil Shaham, with Berliner Philharmoniker

From Pieter Viljoen
Posted on April 11, 2005 at 07:42 PM

Try Susanne Hou.

From Chris Chonly
Posted on April 11, 2005 at 08:15 PM

Everybody should definitely at least watch Gil Shaham's DVD with the Berlin Phil...
simply flawless with great brilliance. I have never seen a guy who plays the second half of that Carmen fantasy as fast as Gil Shaham yet maintain the clarity of notes.
I personally think for technical brilliance, Gil shaham should be considered today's Heifetz. =)

From Adam Wasiel
Posted on April 11, 2005 at 08:33 PM

Ida Haendal's recording of the Sarasate in 1938 or 39 is stunning also - although it's with piano

From Patrick Hu
Posted on April 11, 2005 at 10:55 PM

(for sarasate) I really enjoyed Perlman's version but in technical aspects, sarah chang's recording is more clear. you can hear ever little harmonic and the last movement is so brilliant.

so if you can stand a little harmonic thats off here and there, take perlman but for me, i love hearing every technical spark so for me, it's chang all the way!

From Mark L
Posted on April 11, 2005 at 11:59 PM

Anne Sophie! Oh wait, I already said that on this thread weeks ago. Oh well... I havent changed my mind.

From Pedro Rangel
Posted on April 12, 2005 at 06:02 AM

Perlman !!!! he's amazing, LOVE his vibrato, what makes his vibrato so amazing?? anyone know?

From Christian Vachon
Posted on April 12, 2005 at 12:25 PM

Hi,

Because he is Perlman, physically, mentally and spiritually. It's not just one thing. It's the whole package.

Cheers!

From Leslie Der
Posted on May 16, 2005 at 07:30 AM

Although i think Perlman's recording is the best, I think there are many rising artists that can play this piece quite well. Try Susanne Hou and Howard Zhang...

From Terry King
Posted on May 16, 2005 at 02:15 PM

I'm still captivated by Kogan's performance on an old Monitor LP. The violin is very close-miked and it sounds like a giant playing with an orchestra of midgets. But what a sound! Strangely enough, he inserts the "slow movement" from the Waxman, but the rest is Sarasate. I wish they'd remaster this and reissue it. Does anybody know who in the world has the original Monitor recordings and rights?

From George Philips
Posted on May 16, 2005 at 06:08 PM

There's a great recording of Michael Rabin playing just the last movement, and it's a pity that that's all he recorded, because that was technically flawless and super articulate. Mutter is a little too gypsy for my taste. Perlman is pretty darn good. My favorite would have to be Aaron Rosand. His super sweet dark velvetty tone is just PERFECT for the piece, and he has a perfect knack for the Spanish idiom.

From Alex Yau
Posted on May 16, 2005 at 09:30 PM

I like perlman's version, though everyone has their own opinions.

From Tommy Atkinson
Posted on May 16, 2005 at 09:35 PM

My favorite is Itzhak Perlman's recording, but if I'm in the mood to be inspired to practice (or give up the violin altogether) I listen to Sarah Chang play it at the age of 9 on a quarter sized violin. And then I throw up.

From Molly Rogers
Posted on May 17, 2005 at 12:14 AM

I'm glad someone mentioned Aaron Rosand. He really does have a velvety sound and really captures the piece. No other recording really stands out in my mind other than his!

I haven't heard Chang play it, even at such a young age. I really love her so I should check it out.

From D Kurganov
Posted on May 17, 2005 at 07:25 PM

Itzhak Perlman's recording is really good, but it was a little dry, musically, for my tastes...which is typical in a lot of his recordings. He is an excellent fiddler though. I always liked the recording Heifetz made. Kogans sarasate and waxman have always been my favorites. His intensity in the most dramatic parts of the piece is just breathtaking...i don't really feel that much with Perlman's recording

From Owen Sutter
Posted on May 17, 2005 at 08:38 PM

his sound and articulation are so amazingly robust

From Anna Rose Lawrence
Posted on May 19, 2005 at 01:35 PM

Just listened to the Anne-Sophie Mutter recording-- it's amazing. gorgeous, flawless, and real gypsy music.

From Alexandra Soumm
Posted on June 3, 2005 at 02:50 PM

Heifetz and Kogan

From Owen Sutter
Posted on June 4, 2005 at 12:13 AM

heifetz and kogan

From D Kurganov
Posted on June 4, 2005 at 02:22 AM

heifetz and kogan for me as well!
wow thats some good agreement.

though, my heart goes out to Xachatryan as well ... :)

From Edward Pulgar
Posted on October 7, 2005 at 01:11 PM

Heifetz and Kogan yeeh also Kachatryan

From Jim Hoyle
Posted on October 7, 2005 at 02:39 PM

Whoops, I misread it for the Waxman too.

From Julia Igonina
Posted on October 8, 2005 at 07:20 AM

I think Anne-Sophie Mutter's version is the best.

From Milstein DeusEst
Posted on October 8, 2005 at 05:23 PM

Gotta jump on the EMI/Perlman bandwagon on this one. Just listened to it again last night. I've always wondered how a man with such fat fingers can play so cleanly...

From Gennady Filimonov
Posted on October 8, 2005 at 10:00 PM

I guess everybody includes the performances of Waxman when comparing recordings of Carmen.
For Sarasate's version I think Perlman's and Aaron Rosand's is my fave.
For Waxmann it is absolutely Heifetz for whom the work was written, and Kogan (his version with a few small cuts) recording which stands as the testament of what violin playing is all about. It is astounding! See the video as well.
Kogan's sound is electrifying, the timing is impeccable with technical command of a wizard!
.......................
Rachel, a small note: if you are good enough to play Carmen, please listen to your own voice for inspiration, and do research some great singers for it is a fantasy based on an opera.
BTW: I knew Sally O'Reilly, since I dated her daughter Arianne, the pianist. Any idea whatever happened to her (Arianne)?

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