TCHAIKOVSKY Favourite Works for Violin and Piano. Markov/Markovich (Erato) – INKPOT

Favourite Pieces for
Violin and Piano

Russian Dance
from Swan Lake, (arr. Dimitri Tzyganov)
Serenade Melancholique, Op.26
Scherzo, Op.42 No.2
Melody, Op.42 No.3
Introduction & Adagio
from Swan Lake, (arr. anonymous)
Prince Variation
from Swan Lake, (arr. anonymous)
Humoresque (arr. Kreisler)
Waltz Sentimental
Song without words, (arr. Kriesler)
Meditation, Op.42 No.1
Aurora Variation – Allegro moderato
from Sleeping Beauty
Aurora Variation – Andantino
from Sleeping Beauty
Waltz Scherzo, Op.34

ALEXANDER MARKOV violin
Alexander Markovich piano

ERATO 8573-80231-2
[61:02] full-price

by Johann D’Souza

This is truly an exciting disc of works by Tchaikovsky. While most people know him for his famous symphonies, ballet music, piano and violin concertos, his chamber violin works have unfortunately not enjoyed as much attention.

Played by Russian musicians Alexander Markov and Alexander Markovich, the performances on this disc are as authentic as they can get. Markovich is more well-known as an accompanist but mind you he has an impressive record of having graduated from the Gnessian School, the same Kissen graduated from. He is also a past prize winner at the Rachmaninov Competition and I had the privilege of hearing him play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 in Singapore in 2000 .

Markov (left) is a much sought after violinist, having won the prestigious gold medal at the International Paganini Violin competition in 1987 and has numerous recordings to his credit, including one of Vieuxtemp’s Violin Concertos .

The works in this Tchaikovsky album are fiendishly difficult and test the dexterity of the violinist in every avenue. One must remember that when Tchaikovsky first composed his Violin Concerto, it was declared technically unplayable. Judging by what one hears from the works here, such as the Scherzo Op.42 No.2, you can hear that same level of devilish difficulty which can only be surmounted by a great virtuoso like Markov, who more than meets the challenge.

In fact from this compilation of 14 pieces, four have been used as judging criteria in many famous violin competitions, notably the Tchaikovsky, Paganini and Sibelius competitions. Pieces like the Waltz scherzo of Op.34 test you on every aspect of a player’s technique, including phrasing, intonation, glissando, pizzicato and double-stops. Markov once again gives you a lesson on how it should all be played. Markovich, who incidentally also regularly partners Vengerov and Vadim Repin, does total justice to the works with his clear understanding as an accompanist. He never steals the limelight but provides Markov ample space to “show off ” in a humble way, even in the more difficult passages where one might expect him to unleash a virtuoso display.

One of my personal favorites is the Introduction and Adagio from Swan Lake which although marked “Adagio” is never slow at all. One might think that in ballet, the accompanying music takes second fiddle – this is sometimes true but not in the case Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, which is true poetry in sound and dance, and expressively so in this album.

If one loves Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, there is an intriguing work that was immediately composed after it, which does show some resemblance. The Souvenir d’un lier cher, Op.42 is made up of three parts: the Meditation which was initially supposed to be used in the Violin Concerto together with the Scherzo (No.3) and Melodie (No.2). In 1877 Tchaikovsky composed the Serenade Melancholique which was dedicated to his good friend Leopold Auer. The piece describes the “graphic demonstration of what the Russians mean when they say that the violin is an instrument that ‘sobs'”. Markov digs deep into the recesses of his musical soul and the violin to draw the deep tone of his violin. His pace is even and phrasing well thought-out.

Markov proves to be an excellent violinist with great intonation and musical sense. He plays with a 1737 Guarneri Del Gesu violin and this makes a world of a difference due to its clarity and depth of tone. If you are a fan of the Violin Concerto and have never heard Tchaikovsky’s other violin works, this is a great disc, valuable also for the additional transcriptions and ballet works.

8xx: 31.1.2001 Johann D’Souza

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