Description
David Oistrakh: Portrait of a Legend — BBC Legends (3 CD Set)
UPC: BBCL 5003-2
MPN: BBCL 5003-2 (CD1: BBCL 4060-2 | CD2: BBCL 4102-2 | CD3: BBCL 4127-2)
Brand Name: BBC Legends / Medici Arts
Recording Format: ADD (Stereo / Mono)
Overview
The BBC Legends “Portrait of a Legend” 3-CD anthology presents a definitive tribute to David Oistrakh, one of the towering violinists of the 20th century. Recorded live and in studio between 1960 and 1968, these historic BBC performances document Oistrakh’s incomparable artistry, blending Russian depth, classical poise, and emotional power.
This set features collaborations with his son Igor Oistrakh, and legendary conductors including Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, Evgeny Svetlanov, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Norman Del Mar, and Kyrill Kondrashin — performing with premier orchestras such as the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, and Moscow Philharmonic.
These live BBC recordings, remastered for this 2007 release, showcase Oistrakh’s rare combination of warmth, technical command, and musical insight — truly a portrait of a legend.
Product Features
- Format: 3 Compact Discs (Stereo / Mono, ADD)
- Recording Dates: 1960–1968
- Release Year: 2007
- Label: BBC Legends / Medici Arts
-
Performers:
Languages of Notes: English / Deutsch / Français- David Oistrakh – Violin
- Igor Oistrakh – Violin (in Ysaye’s Amitié)
- Philharmonia Orchestra, USSR State Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductors: Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, Evgeny Svetlanov, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Norman Del Mar, Kyrill Kondrashin
- Publisher: BBC Worldwide Ltd. under license to Medici Arts Ltd.
Track Listing
CD 1 – BBCL 4060-2 (Total Time 66:58)
- Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 (1962)
- Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-sharp minor, Op. 129 (1968)
- Ysaye: Amitié, Op. 26 – Poème No. 6 for Two Violins and Orchestra (with Igor Oistrakh, 1961)
CD 2 – BBCL 4102-2 (Total Time 74:09)
- Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 (1960)
- Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 (1961)
CD 3 – BBCL 4127-2 (Total Time 78:18)
- Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 (1965)
- Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218 (1965)
Interesting Facts
- A Rare Legacy: These live BBC recordings capture Oistrakh at his artistic zenith — full of warmth, nobility, and interpretative brilliance.
- Father & Son Duo: Amitié, Op. 26 by Eugène Ysaÿe features David and Igor Oistrakh performing together — a powerful symbol of musical inheritance.
- Historic Conductors: The set unites Oistrakh with legendary baton masters, including Kondrashin and Rozhdestvensky, both of whom had close ties with the composer Shostakovich.
- Remastered Classics: Digitally restored from BBC Radio 3 archives, ensuring superb clarity while preserving the authenticity of 1960s broadcast sound.
- Multilingual Presentation: Includes a detailed booklet with essays in English, German, and French.
Publishers
© 2007 BBC Worldwide Ltd. under licence to Medici Arts Ltd. The BBC, BBC Radio 3, and BBC Legends trademarks are used under licence.
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