David Oistrakh loved Brahms' Violin Concerto and made many classic recordings of it, but he had only a passing fondness for Dvorák's Violin Concerto, played it only occasionally, and never made a commercial recording of it. These recordings, made in 1952 and 1951 with
Kiril Kondrashin conducting the USSR Radio Large Symphony Orchestra, are
Oistrakh's first of the Brahms Concerto and the only of his Dvorák Concerto. Both are superlative.
Oistrakh's youthful Brahms is more ardent than his later Brahms and his playing more raptly lyrical.
Oistrakh's only Dvorák is incredibly passionate and completely convincing.
Kondrashin is both a firm supporter and a full partner with
Oistrakh. The USSR Radio Large Symphony Orchestra plays much better than its name would suggest and the half-century-old Russian sound is much better than one could expect. While clearly only for
Oistrakh fans, this disc will amaze and delight them.