With a running time of nearly an hour, the
Itzhak Perlman entry in Universal Music's Twentieth Century Masters/The Millennium Collection series of discount-priced best-ofs contains only four works: Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy (performed with the
New York Philharmonic)
Saint-Saëns' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (again with the
New York Philharmonic), Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major (with the
Vienna Philharmonic), and Vivaldi's Concerto for Violin in F minor "Winter" (Four Seasons) (with the
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra). As such, it could hardly be thought to encapsulate the best of what compilation producer and annotator Joseph S. Szurly acknowledges as "over 100 recordings" made by the celebrated violinist. But it does provide examples of what causes his renown. Fans will have their own favorites; this album is intended for neophytes, and it should succeed in giving them a taste of
Perlman's abilities.