Campoli plays most beautifully – the finale, in particular, is accurate and brilliant in the extreme... Campoli’s sweet-toned account of the Mendelssohn has given pleasure for many years. His lyrical feeling in the slow movement and his virtuosity in the finale are as self-evident as is the excellence of the accompaniment under Sir Adrian Boult. There are many felicitous touches and the distinguished soloist plays magnificently throughout. His account of the Bruch Scottish Fantasia is no less fine, and the recorded sound is amazingly fresh. - Gramophone Certainly the Mendelssohn Concerto was Campoli’s signature dish... and this 1958 stereo recording is much admired. Campoli’s tone is deliciously sweet and he has typically interesting ideas in the passagework. As ever the slow movement is the heart of things, with affectionate lyricism always to the fore. The finale is poised, fluent and fleet - but not flashily so. The Scottish Fantasy was a work Campoli only recorded once... Campoli is an expressive host, warmly moulding the ‘MacBruch’ tunes to delightful effect. The scherzo is played with pure panache and there are some lovely diminuendi in the Andante sostenuto. He was without doubt the most dashing British violinist of his generation. - Jonathan Woolf, Music Web International * Originally Released on 1956 / SXL 2026
Tracklist:
SIDE A Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto In E Minor, Op. 64
1, 1st Mov. Allegro Molto Appassionato
2. 2nd Mov. Andante
3. 3rd Mov. Allegro Molto Vivace
SIDE B Bruch - Scottish Fantasia, Op. 46
1. Introduction
2. 1st Mov. Adagio Cantabile
3. 2nd Mov. Allegro
4. 3rd Mov. Andante Sostenuto
5. 4th Mov. Allegro Guerriero
PERFORMERS Alfredo Campoli (violin) Adrian Boult (cond) London Philharmonic Orchestra
RECORDING INFORMATION Producer : Erik Smith, Ray Minshull Engineer : Kenneth Wilkinson 6-8 May 1958 Kingsway Hall
