① Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 ② Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26 Mischa Elman (violin) Conductor: Sir Georg Solti ① Conductor: Sir Adrian Boult ② London Philharmonic Orchestra Recorded: 1955 ①, 1956 ② Elman, a master violinist from Russia, captivated audiences with his beautiful tone known as the "Elman tone," but his peak period was surprisingly short, lasting only about a decade between the two World Wars. Nevertheless, you can fully enjoy the charm of his brilliant violin playing from these recordings of the 1950s. Elman has many recordings of violin miniatures, but his recordings of large-scale concertos are rare. Although Elman was a student of Auer, like Heifetz, he had a style different from the style represented by Heifetz's refined technique. In America, which celebrated virtuosity, Elman's playing must have seemed clumsy and awkward. With his technically sharp playing peaking in the early 1920s, he gradually lost popularity to Heifetz and became less noticed by the audience. Even so, he continued to perform on stage, and when he died, he was practicing for an upcoming recital. The Elman heard here no longer has technical sharpness. However, his violin sound is thick and has a strong presence, so much so that you wonder how he produces it. Although the tempo doesn't increase, he makes the violin sing fully with each phrase, and the phrases are musically connected. He plays with a tone that is almost too mellow, but in Beethoven's concerto, Solti tightens the music at various points, so there is no major collapse in the structure. In Bruch's concerto, Elman's violin is a bit overripe, and in the third movement, Boult's efforts are in vain, and the rhythm collapses. However, Elman's artistry, singing to his heart's content without worrying about such things, is addictive. A must-listen for Elman fans. It is a monaural recording, but the sound quality is satisfactory. Domestic edition [out of print] No obi, no scratches on the disc surface Plastic case has scratches 14 *We will discount for bulk purchases (please comment in advance) 150 yen off for each additional item 150 yen off all items for 10 or more items (Please refrain from discounts for single purchases)