#67 The Smell of Dialog

Behold a shortcut! All the well known melodies from Carmen packed into 14 minutes. But forget about Carmen, focus on the dialog between violin and orchestra. It's a delicate and complicated one, no doubt.

Josefowicz can hold both lines, passion and structure. She's gliding but never too much. The dialog is balanced.

Composer: Pablo de Sarasate
Work: Carmen Fantasy
Recording: Leila Josefowicz, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner

#49 The Smell of Waltz

It's like a folk parody of a waltz by Strauss. Randy violin, touching melodies, jumpy rhythm.

It's fascinating how the mood is different for piano and for violins. Piano is always holding back, almost never supporting, trying to regulate violins–yes, two violins. Perlman is playing them both, overdubbing himself.

Composer: Pablo de Sarasate
Work: Navarra
Recording: Itzhak Perlman, David Garvey