MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Virtuoso Vengerov

Virtuosity is often thought of as the ability to play difficult music really fast. In truth, however, virtuosity requires as much poetry as athleticism. Maxim Vengerov is not one to shy away from flashy favorites, like Bazzini's infamously strenuous "Ronde des Lutins," but Vengerov & Virtuosi offers an equal proportion of slow, songful numbers. One need only listen to Rachmaninoff's soaringly lyrical "Vocalise," the opening track, to discover how deeply impressive a lusciously toned, imaginatively phrased melody can be. What really sets this disc apart, though, is the participation of Virtuosi, a group of 11 violinists (mostly of Russian origin), who create a radiant sonic halo around the soloist. It is a beautiful and entirely original effect, thanks in part to the clever and often elaborately intricate arrangements. The musical selections cover a wide variety of styles, and Vengerov and his colleagues are at home in all of them, taking a whimsically free-spirited approach to some of Brahms's Hungarian Dances and then basking in the melancholy warmth of Tchaikovsky's "Souvenir d'un lieu cher." Given the breathtaking excellence of these performances, you might be surprised to learn that they were recorded live in Vienna. The sound quality is terrific, too, with no intrusive audience noise, although one wonders how the audience managed to hold their bravos until the very end.