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Yvonne Smeulers (violin), Sander Sittig (piano) + big names + unknown names and youngsters play Novacek Perpetuum mobile

September 27, 2008 at 8:12 AM

The most popular piece of the Czech composer Ottokar Novacek (1866-1900), who became only 34, is perpetuum mobile. There are no photo's of this composer on internet.
Here a recording of the Dutch violinist YVONNE SMEULERS
with SANDER SITTIG of the double-cd with Czech composers.

After a lot of concerts in little churches in little villages they will play tonight in the small concerthall of the Concertgebouw in the capital of the Netherlands Amsterdam Their interpretation differs from big names in the past and some youngsters by playing it not so fast. So they did not win the speedcompetition, but now you can hear more of the music harmonics and differences between forte and piano.
HERE a concert of sonate in A of Cesar Franck of both players:
Sonate in Cesar Franck LIVE

To compare this piece here some big names from the past
Michael Rabin plays Novacek (WITH ORCHESTRA) Perpetuo Mobile
(2.22 minutes, recordholder till now)
Jascha Heifetz Plays Novacek (WITH ORCHESTRA)

NATHAN MILSTEIN - Novacek's 'Perpetuum Mobile:


HENRYK SZERYNG- Novacek's 'Perpetuum Mobile:

Youngsters and unknown violinists:
Emerson Millar plays Novacek Perpetuo Mobile
a violinist plays Novacek Perpetuo Mobile
Danny Chen (2.31 minutes)
Laszlo Farkas
Yigit Karakas
Cazacu Iulia
ANI BUKUJIAN

Hearing them all, one after another, gives new meaning to the work's title.
Another item on the Violin Olympics' schedule?
It seems as if in this piece all you have to do is hit the notes, but many players still add their own artistry, and after hearing a few renderings the hearer cannot very well do without. Thank you, Bram, for an interesting comparison.

Loved Milstein, by the way.