Ruggiero Ricci - Werke für Violine & Orchester (180g) LP

Sarasate: Carmen-Fantasie op. 25; Zigeunerweisen
+Saint-Saens: Havanaise op. 83; Introduction & Rondo capriccioso op. 28

Ruggiero Ricci, London Symphony Orchestra, Pierino Gamba, Richard Bonynge (Massenet)

Label: Decca, 1959

Serie: Speakers Corner Records

Some violinists inspire with their pure tone, others with a warm timbre or technical finesse. One of the few who combined all these qualities and also possessed compositional skills was Pablo de Sarasate y Navascuéz. Of his total of 50 works, the tradition-bound Gypsy Tunes and, of course, the Carmen Fantaisie, filled with every conceivable difficulty, are among the best known.
Saint-Saëns' Rondo capriccioso is considered a striking example of the fact that joyful exuberance and minor tonality are perfectly compatible. The Havanaise, on the other hand, as its name suggests, strikes melodic sparks from Spanish rhythms and rightly bears the title of "the warhorse of violinists."

Of course, no modern violinist who wants to go down in the annals as a virtuoso can get past these weighty bravura pieces of the 19th century. Today, 40 years after this recording was made, it is certain that Ruggiero Ricci has effortlessly achieved this goal.

1 Bizet: carmen - fantaisie op. 25
2 Bizet: zigeunerweisen, op. 20, no. 1
3 Saint-saens: havanaise, op. 83
4 Saint-saens: introduction and rondo capriccioso, op. 28