Baiba Skride, City of Birmingham SO, Andris Nelsons - P.I. Tchaikovsky: Souvenir Russe (2008)

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Baiba Skride, City of Birmingham SO, Andris Nelsons - P.I. Tchaikovsky: Souvenir Russe (2008)

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Appearing this time with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Andris Nelsons, Latvian violinist Baiba Skride returns for yet another installment of her recording contract with Sony Classical. Sony's penchant for using the physical attributes of its young, attractive soloists remains unchanged; the cover and liner notes are filled with one glamour-shot after another, which of course has nothing to do with the musical content of the album at all. Even the conductor, Andris Nelsons, is another "up-and-coming" artist who had not even achieved 30 years of age at the time of this recording. As in her previous releases, Skride again proves herself to be an accomplished technical master of her instrument and even to be rather musically informed. The problem with this album in particular is that it doesn't really provide listeners with anything they haven't heard before. In fact, the program is almost identical to Joshua Bell's 2005 release (also on Sony). But while Bell challenged his listeners by pushing tempos one way or another, adding a little fire here and a little sentimentality there, Skride's interpretation is rather safe and predictable. Her sound, unlike Bell's, is also quite bright, a seeming mismatch for the dark, brooding character of the concerto's second movement or the Op. 42 Meditation. Although it's difficult to tell for certain, Skride's sound also seems to lack in any true power; while this is not a major issue in the recording studio, one wonders if she would truly be heard over a live symphony orchestra without benefit of recording technology.

Review by Mike D. Brownell, Allmusic.com

This young Latvian violinist makes a quiet but marked impression here. There is modesty and a touching fragility about her playing – the Tchaikovsky Concerto has rarely sounded more lyrical, more “feminine”. In the second subject group of the first movement a rare instance of interpretative licence has her making a big ritardando, a sudden “dissolve”, if you like, into a moment or two of pure reverie. It could be Tatyana reflecting on that letter she’s just sent to Onegin – there is wonder and apprehension in it. The same might be said of the cadenza, uncommonly introspective and poetic.

Andris Nelsons’s shaping of the CBSO – he’s the new musical director – is fashioned very much in Skride’s image and here I must admit that there are times when a touch more muscle might have lent the proceedings more of a lift: I miss the “kick” and trumpet-toned brilliance of the grand polonaise variant in the first movement’s tuttis. The wintry colours of the slow movement are lovely, though, with Skride’s many shades of pale elegantly dovetailed into flute and clarinet adornments.

All these qualities are replicated throughout the disc, the other amuses-bouches attended with equally good grace. Glazunov does a passable imitation of Tchaikovsky in his orchestration of Souvenir d’un lieu cher.

So what’s missing? On this evidence I would say panache. Her Tchaikovsky Concerto is not going to wow those accustomed to bigger bowing and more primary colours. The wilder side of her temperament (if there is one) is kept well in check.

Review by Edward Seckerson, Gramophone Magazine

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Baiba Skride, City of Birmingham SO, Andris Nelsons - P.I. Tchaikovsky: Souvenir Russe (2008)

Close

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Baiba Skride, City of Birmingham SO, Andris Nelsons - P.I. Tchaikovsky: Souvenir Russe (2008)

Close

×

Baiba Skride, City of Birmingham SO, Andris Nelsons - P.I. Tchaikovsky: Souvenir Russe (2008)

Close

×

Baiba Skride, City of Birmingham SO, Andris Nelsons - P.I. Tchaikovsky: Souvenir Russe (2008)

Close

×

Baiba Skride, City of Birmingham SO, Andris Nelsons - P.I. Tchaikovsky: Souvenir Russe (2008)

Close