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Say good things about Rachel Barton

CD reviews: New CD, new take on an old piece

From Jim W. Miller
Posted June 12, 2005 at 03:32 PM

11th place at the 1993 QE competition. New two for one CD set titled Scottish Fantasies for Violin & Orchestra.

She used a "dialect coach," scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser, to give it a Scottish flavor, including an authentic highlighting of the themes embedded in the Bruch Scottish Fantasy.

I heard her play the adagio from it live in the studio on NPR along with some Bach and Mendelssohn. I'll probably never buy the CD, because I listen to them a half-dozen times and then don't know what to do with them, but the recording of the broadcast is getting heavy use.

One of the finest of the popular players, without a doubt. Very nice slow movements especially. Remember, say good things only!

From Bram Heemskerk
Posted on June 12, 2005 at 05:44 PM

I have 2 cd’s of Rachel Barton. One is : Violinconcertos by black composers of the 18th and 19th centuries by Rachel Barton, violinconcerto no.4 of Chevalier J.J.O. de Meude-Monpas, violinconcerto op.5 no.2 of Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Violinconcerto of Joseph White, Romance of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Cedille Records 90000 035 The other one is Cedille Records 90000 068 cd1 Joseph Joachim violinconcerto op.11 “In the Hungarian style”.
I like violinists who record never recorded violinconcerto’s or seldom recorded violinconcerto’s. I have not yet listen to her Brahms concerto, but I know the piece too well, so I am not interested in her version or the version of another great violinist. But it must be good, because she is good. Great violinist who only have recorded well known evergreenviolinconcerto’s are rather worthless. So she is not.

From Scott Hawthorn
Posted on June 12, 2005 at 06:32 PM

Bram wrote:
>Great violinist who only have recorded well known evergreenviolinconcerto’s are rather worthless.<

HUH! I didn't know that before!

From Emily Liz
Posted on June 12, 2005 at 08:10 PM

One of my favorite violinists - her sound is so burnished and lovely, and she's got a courageous spark in her playing that not many others have. I absolutely cannot wait to buy her Scottish disc - there are some not-so-well-known pieces on there that I'm really looking forward to getting acquainted with. Great player, great person.

Saint Paul Sunday (saintpaulsunday.org) also has an hour-long broadcast archived from April 2005 where she played Ravel, Bach, and some other things. That's worth a look, too.

From Terry King
Posted on June 12, 2005 at 09:11 PM

She's absolutely great--one of the very best of the young-but-established players out there (I consider anyone under 40 young). Her Brahms concerto is really beautiful, one of the best recorded versions I've heard. And check out her recording of the Ernst/Schubert "Erlkonig." Smokin'!! One of the rare players (in any era) who combines virtuoso technique, a gorgeous sound, and sincere musicality.

From Peter Ferreira
Posted on June 13, 2005 at 01:52 PM

Rachel Barton Pine is a great violinist!
We (her and me) also share the love for Bach and composing, that makes me like her even more! Take a look at her composition, GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND...

Regards,

Peter

From Rick Basil
Posted on June 13, 2005 at 02:31 PM

To be honest she kind of bores me. I heard her live playing a Beethoven sonata live, and it was kind of dissapointing. I have her Brahms, and Joachim cd, and the Brahms just kind of plodded along. She played the notes right, but she should of came out more with more of her emotions, instead of just trying not to miss a note. The cadenza she wrote was great however, even though the way she played was very dull, imho. None the less, she has done a good service to performing the rare violin concertos and it's good for her that she is trying to promote them.

From D Kurganov
Posted on June 13, 2005 at 02:41 PM

talked to her on the phone for a bit. nice lady
:) likes classical rock

From Scott Hawthorn
Posted on June 13, 2005 at 03:53 PM

>:) likes classical rock <

Ooh, now you're really dishin' the dirt! >G<

From William Shackelton
Posted on June 14, 2005 at 09:18 PM

I've seen her perform a couple times with the Ft. Wayne Philharmonic. Not only has her playing always been brilliant but she has always met her fans after the concert and signed autographs. Regardless of how anyone feels about violin playing, it's impossible not to like a great performer, such as Rachel Barton, who is considerate enough to talk with her fans after concerts. She has done that each time she has come to Ft. Wayne and I think this is exceptionally admirable. This she does in addition to playing encores.
Besides, I really enjoy her recording of Ernst's Caprice on Der Erlkonig. It's featured on her "Devil's Instrument" album.

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