There have been few violinists who have recorded any of
Schubert's violin music and far fewer violinists who recorded all of
Schubert's violin music. Thankfully,
Gidon Kremer is one of the few who have recorded it all. Although
Kremer is best known for his virtuoso performances of an eclectic repertoire from
Shostakovich to
Piazolla, he is both a dedicated and sympathetic
Schubert player, dedicated to the greatness of the music and sympathetic to its ineffable beauty. All four of
Kremer's
Schubert sonatas are intensely concentrated performances that make the most of every note, singing every melody and filling every form with drama. His Fantasy in C major and the Trockne Blumen are even better as works of virtuosic tendencies redeemed by the inspiration of
Schubert's genius and transformed by
Kremer's transcendent technique into great performances. Of his three concerto movements for violin and orchestra, the Rondo is at the level of
Mozart's violin concertos, his Konzertstück is just as good and his Polonaise is good clean fun.
Kremer's Menuette are adorable and his Deutscher are divine. His Octet with a group of players from Austria's Lockenhaus Festival is nearly as sublime as the great old Vienna Octet recording, and his two transcriptions are stunning adventures in virtuosity. This comes with the highest possible recommendation for anyone who loves great violin music and absolutely mandatory for anyone who loves
Schubert.