Brahms - Denes Kovacs - Violin Concerto In D Major, Op.77

M/m- | Review by Gramophone:The conductor, Miklos Erdelyi, starts extremely slowly, to the extent that I feared an excessively dull performance. It turned out not to be so. He maintains this right over the first strong passage and only gets into a flowing, lyrical tempo from bar 41. But this, surely, is how it ought to have started! Thereafter he accompanies well.
Kovacs is a player new to me, though I see he has been considerably admired by my colleagues. He is certainly a fine artist (and admirably balanced with the orchestra), with a deep understanding of this concerto: nor does his technique ever falter. His lyrical playing is most beautiful, while his attack is splendid. The slow movement is particularly expressive.
Yet, in face of such competition at about the same price, there are reasons (not always to do with the soloist) why I must prefer one or other of the rivals listed above, the main one being superior orchestral playing. But I also feel that both Kogan and Francescatti play as if they had more reserves of brilliance up their sleeves. This may be due to the Hungaroton recording, which is lack-lustre in the finale when dealing with the orchestra and may also affect the impression Kovacs makes.
My own choice remains Kogan, for he plays with the utmost beauty and brilliance, without any sort of mannerisms (like the way Francescatti distorts the main theme of the finale). The orchestral playing by the Philharmonia under Kondrashin is most distinguished and with considerably more beautiful playing of the slow movement's important oboe solo than the Hungarian player produces (acceptable as he is). The whole recording has not only more vividness but more subtlety as in the lovely pianissimo passages, while the big tuttis come out more triumphantly. T.H.

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra in D Major op.77
A1 Allegro Non Troppo
B1 Adagio
B2 Allegro Giocoso, Ma Non Troppo Vivace

Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra,Conductor – Miklós Erdélyi
Violin – Dénes Kovács

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