This coupling duplicates an excellent Vengerov/Rostropovich disc on Warner, and it couldn’t be more different. The Russians are slower, heavier, but also more manic in the second and fourth movements of the Shostakovich. By contrast, Sarah Chang is less intense, but certainly no less involved. If those same movements lack the last ounce of hysteria, her flowing tempos in the first movement, and especially in the magnificent passacaglia, are arguably more apt, and the latter in particular nicely offsets her inward account of the ensuing cadenza. Nor is there any reason to fault Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, who provide sensitive, intelligent support throughout.
The Prokofiev never has lacked for excellent performances on disc, and this is another. Chang catches the bittersweet lyricism of the outer movements with great subtlety of tone, and her central scherzo is aptly dazzling. Sonically this is somewhat dry, and the balances vary a bit, tending to favor the soloist, but that’s nothing new in violin concerto recordings. A very fine disc all around. [3/29/2006]
