ZINO VINNIKOV: Zino Vinnikov Plays Fritz Kreisler

Zino Vinnikov

Zino Vinnikov Plays Fritz Kreisler

© 2001 Zino Vinnikov (714548306028)

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Fritz Kreisler performed to standing room only, foot stamping, wildly cheering audiences in recitals and concerto appearances, in a triumphant reign as one of the most captivating, seducing, classical violin masters.

tracks

1 Gypsy Caprice
2 Syncopation
3 Berceuse Romantique
4 Malaguena
5 Liebesfreud
6 Liebesfleid
7 Fair Rosmarin
8 Slavonic Dance No. 3 (Dvorak-Kreisler)
9 Polichinelle
10 Slavonic Dance No. 2 (Dvorak-Kreisler)
11 Miniature Viennese March
12 Hungarian Dance (Brahms-Kreisler)
13 Romance (Schumann-Kreisler)
14 La Gitana

notes

About Fritz Kreisler

Fritz Kreisler made his American debut in Boston in 1888, and toured the country with pianist Moriz Rosenthal the following season. Like so many musical geniuses before and since, he suffered the disdain of critics, to such a discouraging degree, in fact, that he temporarily gave up music for the study of medicine and a tour of duty in the Austrian army. But not for long!

The scope of his genius and his inevitable response to its irresistible call brought Kreisler back to the public eye and ear again in 1898, when he made his Vienna debut with Richter and the Vienna Philharmonic, followed by idolized performances in Berlin. Like so many musical geniuses before and since, he was to bask in the unabashed and unstinting praise of the same critics who had roasted him not that long before, writers who now found themselves transformed by his spectacular technique and unprecedented flair for the romantic.

Shortly thereafter, in a triumphant return to the United States, Fritz Kreisler performed to standing room only, foot stamping, wildly cheering audiences in recitals and concerto appearances. Then, it was off to a London debut in 1902, followed by a triumphant reign as the toast of music capitals around the world. Kreisler didn't just captivate his audiences. He seduced them. His remarkable tone was displayed to perfection on a Guarneri del Gesu violin of 1733. To his great credit, Fritz Kreisler eschewed sensationalism, devoting his prodigious technique instead to the glorification of the music.

He was a prolific composer of salon music and numerous other pieces for the violin, a selection of which can be admired and enjoyed on this recording. Kreisler's music transports us back to the Vienna of his era, to that atmosphere of intellectual and artistic effervescence which to this day remains unique in history. An enchanting charm which is both timeless in its appeal and notoriously difficult in its interpretation permeates his music.

Fritz Kreisler's reputation as one of the greatest violinists of all time is rarely challenged. But what exactly was it that set his playing apart? For Zino Vinnikov, Kreisler's greatness resides in the latter's "achievement of perfection in the art of parlando (literally, 'speaking' or 'articulating'), and in the magical, expressive bow that made it possible." Indeed, Vinnikov continues, "parlando is the single most important element for listeners to look out for in Kreisler's compositions, and probably also the most difficult one for artists to master."

Fritz Kreisler died in New York City in January, 1962.

THE ARTIST

Born in Russia, Zino Vinnikov studied the violin privately with Professor Abram Shtern in Kiev, and later at the Leningrad Conservatoire with Professors Mikhail Waiman and Benjamin Scher, himself a pupil of the legendary Leopold Auer. While still a student, he won the First Prize at the USSR National Violin Competition and went on to shine at the most prestigious and demanding international competitions. He was one of the prizewinners of the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the Concours Reine Élisabeth in Brussels, as well as winner of the First Prize and Gold Medal at the George Enescu Competition in Bucharest. Immediately after completing his postgraduate studies, Vinnikov was invited to become a Professor at the Leningrad Conservatoire. In the early years of his career, Zino Vinnikov appeared in solo recitals and concerto performances on stages throughout the former Soviet Union. In 1979 the Soviet authorities permitted Vinnikov and his family to emigrate to the West. They accepted an invitation to settle in The Netherlands, where Vinnikov is still based.

Today Zino Vinnikov is an acclaimed international artist with broad musical interests and an exceptionally rich repertoire. Audiences and critics worldwide have been moved by his profound interpretations, dazzling technical skill and astonishingly unique sound, which Yehudi Menuhin described as 'coming straight from heaven'. He has performed with orchestras of the calibre of The St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as with numerous chamber orchestras of renown. Conductors he has worked with include Yehudi Menuhin, Kyrill Kondrashin, Evgeny Svetlanov, Yuri Temirkanov, Mariss Jansons, Neeme Järvi, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Valery Gergiev, Hans Vonk, Aldo Ceccato and Alain Lombard. Zino Vinnikov has appeared in most European countries as well as in those of the Former Soviet Union, the United States, Canada, Latin America, China and Japan.

Equally a keen chamber musician, Zino Vinnikov has performed with musicians such as Mischa Maisky, Boris Pergamenschikow, Natalia Gutman, Elisso Versoladze, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Ronald Brautigam and many others, appearing at numerous festivals including those of Edinburgh, Bahnhof Rolandseck, St Petersburg 'White Nights', Camerino, Santander and Bordeaux.

Committed to the transmission of his art, Zino Vinnikov has held Professorships in Russia, France and The Netherlands, and has conducted masterclasses in the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Finland and France. He currently also teaches a select group of highly talented private students.

Zino Vinnikov plays a magnificent Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin stemming from the master's golden Torino-period, courtesy of an anonymous benefactor.

In addition to numerous television and radio broadcasts, Vinnikov's select discography includes several solo-recordings on the Soviet Melodiya label and a recording of Dvorák's Violin Concerto with the Residentie Orchestra The Hague. Zino Vinnikov's 1995 recording of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, Sérénade mélancolique and Mélodie with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yehudi Menuhin (Tring International) received world-wide acclaim. .

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