I have borrowed Shostakovich's violin concertos from the library. I have listened to them twice now and I find violin concerto no 2 very difficult to listen to because it is so jagged and it seems to have no variety. It seems a bit dry and the drums don't seem to work as well as they usually do in Shostakovich's music. The drums seem out of place.
The first movement of the first concerto is the best of all the individual movements of these two concertos because of the emotion in the music and there is good balance between the violin and the other instruments of the orchestra (like the bassoons and the harp) which do vary to make it more interesting. David Oistrakh is the violinist and he really knows how to make his violin sing.
What do you like or dislike about them?
The first movement of the first concerto is the best of all the individual movements of these two concertos because of the emotion in the music and there is good balance between the violin and the other instruments of the orchestra (like the bassoons and the harp) which do vary to make it more interesting. David Oistrakh is the violinist and he really knows how to make his violin sing.
What do you like or dislike about them?