Violinist Fritz Kreisler ~ "Chanson Meditation by Rawlins Cottenet" (1910)

[2ndviolinist]

With no close second, my favorite violinist. Wonderful piece played perfectly. The sound is so much better than my copy, I'm deleting it. Bravo.

[HerAeolianHarp]

Thank you for another nightcap of musical beauty. I shall belly up to my inbox whenever such treats come my way. Like so many of your friends here, Doug, I'm grateful for this.

[blababshik]

Bravo!Put it in my favorites to listen again and again.

[mayatatyana1]

Thank you again, Doug. This is so lovely. Maya

[AlmaWinemiller]

I found this otherwordly... like being transported in another time, another place... Magical. Thank you!

[CurzonRoad]

@AlmaWinemiller

Agreed... 101 percent... THANK YOU!

[minacciosa]

FANTASTIC! Real violin playing the likes of which have disappeared forever. Thanks for putting this up. I need to get this music.

[CanadaPisces]

Lovely! Thank you Doug for the posting!

[CurzonRoad]

@CanadaPisces

Thank YOU... most welcome, James!

[Ne14Gr8Music]

Excellent post Doug!!!

[CurzonRoad]

@Ne14Gr8Music

Howdy, Lloyd!

Thanks... very much!

[Labienus]

The sound (and playing) is remarkable. I would also say his style of playing lent itself to the recording method-not the Russian or Italianate style which would have put more dramatic sound demands on the recording. If I recall he was a Strad man which man sense for his approach

Such a total musician remember a story where a young violinist was playing a concerto and he sat down at the piano and accompanied from memory I think

[HM0880]

@Labienus

I have heard this story too... the violinist was a pre-teen Heifetz, the concerto was Mendelssohn's, and Kreisler did in fact play the piano part from memory!

Kreisler's sound is so warm and beautiful. He is one of my top three most favorite violinists (the other two being Menuhin and Milstein.) Thanks for this, Doug. :)

[Labienus]

@HM0880 @HM0880 Yes, forgot that it was Heifetz, no less but that Kreisler could do it so casually

There were many musicians of multiple instrumental talents especially composers lots of singers who had careers or great skill as instrumentalists Wunderlich Hunt-Lieberson etc.

Much rarer are instrumentalists who could play publicly on 2 different instruments Rostropovich did

And just last yr. German violinist Fischer played a Saint-Saens violin in first half then Grieg piano

[HM0880]

@Labienus

Oh yes, Kreisler was certainly a talented man! And in the book "Heifetz As I Knew Him," Ayke Agus (the author) says that Heifetz was also a skilled pianist.

[mayatatyana1]

Thank you, Doug. This is exquisite! Maya

[bsharppianomajor]

GREAT! Another + for you. Doug. I have a number or recordings of Kreisler playing Kresiler, but you make them sound great.

[CurzonRoad]

@bsharppianomajor

Thank you... very much!

Without a doubt... this is one of my favorite Kreisler recordings!

[Bivolari]

A wonderful violinist who never ceases to surprise and amaze.

[EdmundStAustell]

Absolutely beautiful. That silvery tone and the acoustic recording horn were a match made in heaven. The response of the recording horn to that tone was very similar to it's response to McCocrmack's voice.

[rupepill]

Certainly, here was a violinist who managed to make recordings that were reasonably real, with a warm and appealing sound. Was it mainly the remarkable instrument or the genius of the player that could somehow make that Kreisler sound rise above the limitations of the acoustic process?

[transformingArt]

Kreisler was certainly the most Phonogenic violinist of acoustic era. Thanks for posting this.