Violin Concerto in D major

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

D major

Recordings

Top Choice

Maxim Vengerov / Claudio Abbado / Berlin Philharmonic

1995

A 'great digital version.' Vengerov is a 'supreme virtuoso' but also a 'thoughtful artist' who brings out softer aspects. Very exciting.

Also Worth Hearing

David Oistrakh / Franz Konwitschny / Dresden Staatskapelle

1954 Mono recording

Gil's preference. Mono. Shows Oistrakh 'at his best,' with 'virtuosity,' 'warmth to his playing,' and 'beautiful fluidity'.

David Oistrakh / Eugene Ormandy / Philadelphia Orchestra

1959

Stereo. 'Just slightly less inspired' than the 1954, with a 'thicker' tone, but 'still very good'.

Leonid Kogan / Constantin Silvestri / Paris Conservatoire Orchestra

1959

Rough sound, but Kogan was 'just a real passionate performer' and 'a great virtuoso'.

Jascha Heifetz / Fritz Reiner / Chicago Symphony

1957

Gil is 'not quite as cool' on this, finding the speeds 'fast for the sake of fast,' but it's worth hearing for Heifetz's 'brilliance' and 'ease'.

Jascha Heifetz / Sir John Barbirolli / London Philharmonic

1937 Historic recording

Gil prefers this earlier Heifetz. 'He gives the piece a little bit more time to breathe,' showing 'supreme virtuosity' and 'supreme artistry'.

Bronislaw Huberman / William Steinberg / Berlin Staatskapelle

1928 Historic recording

Gil's 'favorite.' 'Huberman's Tchaikovsky Concerto just has to be heard.' 'Virtuosity with this artistic imagination and warmth and heart.' Pretty good 1928 sound.

Bronislaw Huberman / Eugene Ormandy / Philadelphia Orchestra

1946 Live recording

Also one of the best. A live recording. Tone is 'a little bit more raw,' but still 'one of the best... I've ever heard'.