Diapason d’Or Prize goes to GENUIN's “The Last Recital” release

David Oistrach, Violine Paul Badura-Skoda, Piano “The Last Recital” GEN 85050

After the wonderful double CD/DVD package released several months ago by Andante (See no. 533), once again we have a live recording featuring David Oistrakh and Paul Badura-Skoda. This recording was made two years later, on May 29, 1974, and was to be the violinist's last recital. Never released before, the live recording of a duo recital once again proves the mastery of the two artists. Oistrakh, thrilled by the skills of the pianist, insisted on rehearsing for a week before performing in concert. Nearly 65 years old, the virtuoso violinist wanted to immerse himself in Mozart's universe and learn all the nuances of this language from his accompanist. The highly attractive booklet contains Paul Badura-Skoda's recollections of these moments which he numbers among the most significant in his career. With his endearing, modest and noble qualities, Oistrakh inspired Badura-Skoda to perform at the very highest level. In the Mozart, of which earlier recordings of the two exist, their dialog is both subtle and gentle—honest, stylish and bare of all pretense. The two performers performed Schubert and Beethoven sonatas which Oistrakh had previously recorded several times before (with Lev Oborin, Frida Bauer and Sviatoslav Richter). Here, too, the musical interplay is of exemplary substance and clarity, and in perfect balance. The violin and piano speak the same language, with the complexity of tempo, entries, dynamics and tonal shading always gauged to perfectly match the slightest detail, no matter how fleeting. The slow movement in the Beethoven C minor sonata sets a tremendous standard in this regard. Several encores and taped portions of a rehearsal (made in Vienna in 1972) round off this excellent recital.

Jean-Michel Molkhou