Fire & Ice

Sarah Chang is a great violinist and, as expected, she gives very good performances of the favorite works from the Romantic period presented on this CD. I have no reservations in recommending this recording. Still, I can't help feeling that despite Sarah Chang's technical prowess, she does not perform on this CD with quite the same artistry that she did on recordings she made when she was younger. Hence the four star rating.Incidentally, I have the same feelings about recent recordings made by Gil Shaham -- gorgeous tone, outstanding technical prowess, but slightly less artistry than on earlier recordings. Frankly I think that these two outstanding artists are being pushed by their record companies to record works which they have not yet fully assimilated artistically simply because they are among the few classical artists who are selling well. Nevertheless, both Sarah Chang and Gil Shaham are so outstanding that their recordings are worth buying.

She plays superbly. A joy to listen to. Great attack on her parts.

I am not a professional musician, but I DO know what I like hearing and what relaxes me. I've watched Sarah Chang for a number of years now on PBS specials, and have come to love watching her style, as well as listening to the music that she plays. Even her fastest pace pieces are relaxing to me to hear. Fire and Ice gives you a full range of her talents from the slowest to the fastest and each note she plays is a pleasure! You won't be disappointed in adding this to your collection!

After listening to this CD by Sarah Chang I can see the Fire in all of the selections, even the "Meditiation" by Massenet. But where the Ice comes in I cannot tell. Sarah plays with such vibrance and zeal and even if you've never heard the selection before it doesn't matter. Her interpretation of "Zigeunerweisen" is the best I have ever heard. And I think Placido Domingo also does a fabulous job of conducting. All in all, this is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable CD's I own. I urge you to buy it. You won't be sorry.

I really enjoyed the first track on the Fire and Ice CD. The other selections were not as enjoyable.... they seemed to lack the energy and vibrance of "Carmen". sarah Chang is a very beautiful woman and an extremely talented violinist. Placido does a great job as the conductor.

Sarah plays her violin with confidence, and delicacy. This entire album is enchanting. The violin can be one of the most expressive instruments, and Sarah knows how to use it to evoke it's power. My emotions come to the surface when I listen to her expertise with this music, and can bring me to tears. It's that beautiful!

Sarah Chang is a stunning performer, both live and on this disk. This disk is beautifully performed and arranged, and is well worth adding to one's library, either in hard copy or digital.Carmen is a favorite theme mine, and the renditions here are sizzling. I am less enamored of the "cold" part of this disk, though they are still beautifully played.

He loves Sarah Chang as a violinist. It was a birthday gift and he was very excited to receive it.

This disc, well recorded in 2001 pre-dates three items played at the 'live' concert recorded with the same artists on a Euroarts DVD by one month only. Those three items are the two Sarasate pieces and the Massenet. The rest of the CD is not doubled with the DVD.The 'fire' element of this disc is easy to identify, that being the Carmen Fantasy and Zigeunerweisen by Sarasate and Ravel's fiendishly difficult and rather strange display piece, Tzigane. All three of these pieces are played with astonishing technical accuracy and build to exciting accelerando conclusions. The rapidity of the playing, the tuning of the double stopping and all the other technical hurdles are despatched with such cool nonchalance that the increase of speed at the conclusions is actually required to inject any sense of danger! This is extraordinary playing indeed.The Beethoven and Dvorak pieces are played slightly faster than is often the case and here the slower pace adopted by others is an advantage as it allows for a touch more expression. Those familiar with Suk's recording of the Dvorak with the CPO under Ancerl will know immediately what I mean by this. The Bach is played in the same slightly cool way but here it fits well with the practice of 'period' performers and excess expression would be at odds with the baroque period.The Massenet Meditation is played simply and is most attractive. It is only when one compares this to the 'live' concert in Berlin only a month later that one registers a more relaxed, more communicative performance. That is also markedly true of the two Sarasate pieces which communicate so strongly with the audience that sustained and joyful applause interrupts half way through the Carmen Fantasy. Far from being a problem, Sarah's response is both charming and smiling. The sleeve notes remark upon Sarah Chang's sense of 'fun' and that is what woos the crowd so obviously in the 'live' concert and which I miss on this, otherwise fine, CD.One other point - the stereo sound, good though it undoubtedly is, is clearly outshone by the DTS 5.1 surround sound of the DVD.This is as fine a CD version of the Sarasate and Ravel pieces as any on disc and better than most. The Massenet and Bach are also rewarding in their cool way but there are more warmly involving accounts of the Dvorak and Beethoven.This is a fine disc and will appeal considerably to followers of Sarah Chang. Those followers would find her irresistible in the 'Spanish Night' concert on the Euroarts label, also from 2001.

great music...

Fantastic

pour décompresser un instant hors du temps avec une très jolie interprétation notamment la "méditation de Thaïs" je l’écoute chaque fois que le besoin s'en fait sentir pour reprendre pieds et retrouver un calme qui me manque quotidiennement

un violon virtuose et délicat au service d'oeuvres très connues avec un bon orchestre. Le tout donne un CD de compil très agréable en voiture mais moins en salon, où l'écoute plus attentive demande à être surpris de temps en temps. Dans ma voiture donc