For the Record, Op. 268: Gidon Kremer, Lana Trotovšek, Euclid Quartet, Duo Ingolfsson-Stoupel

January 19, 2024 at 09:59 AM · Quite a nice harvest of interesting new recordings!

January 22, 2024 at 05:21 AM · Re ~ "Prokofiev Milestones" Arranged for Violin and Piano IV "Romeo & Juliet Suite" {#2}

As from ... Elisabeth Matesky, Carrier of Violin Mentor's Heifetz-Milstein Violin Artistry & Musical Legacy

Upon hearing first notes of this new arrangement in a Work by The Great Russian born Composer, Sergei Prokofiev, and originally for Violin and Piano, as framed in his 'Happy' Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 2 in D Major, premiered in anno 1943, yet here it claims a solo compositional spotlight, which reminded me, a Prokofiev Follower,

having recorded the Second Sonata of Prokofiev for Violin and Piano in D Maj 5 times in both the UK, for BBC TV, and the United States, while also re-reviewing the fabled Violin Concerto #1 in D Major & with my 'second' Violin Mentor, Nathan Milstein, following studies with Iconic Violinist, Jascha Heifetz in a new USC Institute for Special Music Studies, for our Original Jascha Heifetz Violin Master Class, which was subsequently filmed & since Spring 2011, available on YouTube with each of we 7 in our individual 1/2 hour films with our Mentor, Jascha Heifetz, aka, Mr. 'H', coaching us & sharing insights/thoughts Only Heifetz could do and very naturally minus fuss nor 'bling' ... I can lay witness to a still 'Romeo & Juliet' arrangement yet no matter How it is Framed, testify this Is either a sketched out blue print for the First Violin Concerto and needless to say the Third movement which wanders away into highest violin registers on the E string with Prokofiev's musings and as beyond magnificently offered by Nathan Milstein, a friend of the Great Composer, {both fleeing 'Mother Russia' following The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, and for Berlin, first stop and on to Paris, later ... }The glazed musings of wandering and away from the terrors of prior War do immediately stand out to one knowing the 'hand prints' of Composer Prokofiev, alla Mozartian grace, in that Final movement of the D Major Violin Concerto #1 which in its final 'non-conclusions' doesn't resolve anything yet leaves the Listener and Artist puzzled and seeking The Real End almost as if the Composer ran out of breath and could not finish to what we, in The West, have come to wish a Final Happy Ending or resolution of all troubles witnessed during the Saga in All Three Movements yet nearing, so one thinks on a first & eventual fifth acquaintance, will produce a final pronouncement of 'All is Well'... No! And to the contrary, the bereft Prokofiev, himself, according to Mr. Milstein, a friend & confidante, never got over the inner grief of seeing his beloved Mother Russia tarnished and forever in returning 'home', (though against his closest musical colleagues very concerned advice to "Not Return for it won't ever be as You Remember.") This advice ignored led to the dire years of Prokofiev's Return to his Homeland yet a monstrous period of inner turmoil and Grief due to Stalin's belittling of and hatred for the Music and sensing the grieving heart of Sergei Prokofiev, who never did accept the Soviet Regime only to pass on the Same Day as Monster, Stalin, & by grace, unknowingly . . . Fate was Cruel to Sergei Prokofiev, who was truly yearning to return to the *Good Years which again Nathan Milstein, {by then my Private Advanced Violin Mentor of 3.5 yrs in London}, told me on a number of occasions produced the Genius of a young Prokofiev yet NM stated the shock of it all led to the Genius of Prokofiev being considerably dimmed in his last years on Earth . . .

Not acquainted with either artist on the Recording, I do hear a soft tenderness in collaboration of both Violinist and Pianist seeking to resurrect The Time in which this 'Romeo & Juliet' was portrayed & on an original Music Manuscript of the unique Twentieth Century Composer yet with the heart of 'Mother Russia' forever at the very forefront of Prokofian harmonies and melodies floating on them all above . . .

I would recommend All Violinists with Concert Artist commitments listen to this with the intent to learn this arrangement to embrace this specific close to Truths for Concert Programming in the US & Europe, and to welcoming audiences {I sense}, 'starved' for the aching beauty expressed by Sergei Prokofiev no matter how very nostalgic it may seem but to absorb some of the tenderness into hardened hearts due the very vile criticizing times we are recently subjected to depending on our brith/personhood or views & values in this Life being noted for "future reference" by very questionable people unknowing and not caring a hoot for Art or Great Classical/ Romantic Music or the Souls of each and every human person on God's Earth ...

So late here, I will defer writing anything right now regarding great musician violinist, Gideon Kremer, until I have had a rest and done some work to absorb all Mr. Kremer, is offering which is IMHO, and

usually very worthy of listening and many listen's after due to his probing mind & abilities to portray the essential message/s therein contained in any new or traditional composition for Violin!!

Congratulations to Lidia Baich & Matthias Fletzburger for their Mvt IV 'Balcony Scene' arrangement for Violin & Piano, lovingly offered by Lana Trotovsek, Violin, & Maria Canyigueral at the Piano ... I will expect to hear from both artists exuding dignified passion with musical qualities uniquely unadorned ~

With Thanks and a 'Brava' to the new artists and duo arrangers of 'Romeo & Juliet', I remain musically moved from Chicago ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Elisabeth Matesky ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ref Bio: https://www.facebook.com/elisabeth.anne.775?fref=nf

{Photograph:The White House ~ EM, Potus Carter Violin Recital}

~ ~ ~ Fwd, dmg ~ ~ ~