Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3; Vieuxtemps: Violin Concertos Nos. 4 & 5

1	Violin Concerto No. 3 in
2	Violin Concerto No. 3 in
3	Violin Concerto No. 3 in
4	Violin Concerto No. 4 in
5	Violin Concerto No. 4 in
6	Violin Concerto No. 4 in
7	Violin Concerto No. 5 in
8	Violin Concerto No. 5 in
9	Violin Concerto No. 5 in
Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3; Vieuxtemps: Violin Concertos Nos. 4 & 5
1.	Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61 28:37
	Composed by Camille Saint-Saëns
	Conducted by Manuel Rosenthal
	Performed by Arthur Grumiaux and Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
2.	Violin Concerto No. 4 in D minor, Op. 31 30:03
	Composed by Henri Vieuxtemps
	Conducted by Manuel Rosenthal
	Performed by Arthur Grumiaux and Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
3.	Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor ("Grétry"), Op. 37 19:04
	Composed by Henri Vieuxtemps
	Conducted by Manuel Rosenthal
	Performed by Arthur Grumiaux and Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra

All Music Guide

This 2008 Philips' disc joins Arthur Grumiaux's 1963 recordings of Saint-Saëns' "Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor" and Vieuxtemps' "Violin Concerto No. 4 in D minor" with his 1966 recording of Vieuxtemps' "Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor." For fans of the Belgian violinist, that will be all the information necessary for them to seek out this disc. They already know Grumiaux's nuanced tone, sweet vibrato, cool poise, and flawless technique, and they probably know these performances either from their earlier issues on LP or CD. But for those who don't already know the performer or the performances, a bit of an introduction will be necessary. A brilliant but not an aggressive player, Arthur Grumiaux had a fine career in Europe after the war, but his more reserved style of playing never impressed Americans quite as much, and for many in the States, Grumiaux is an unknown quantity. Though this disc doesn't show him at his most profound, it does show him at his most elegant -- and most eloquent. In the evanescent Scherzo and the blistering Finale of Vieuxtemps' "D minor Concerto," in the imperious Allegro non troppo and tender Andantino of the Saint-Saëns "B minor Concerto," in the soulful Adagio and fearful Allegro con fuoco of Vieuxtemps' "A minor Concerto," Grumiaux delivers performances that have rarely been equaled and never been surpassed for sheer aural beauty. Supported by the redoubtable Manuel Rosenthal leading the indomitable Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux and captured in Philips' clearest, cleanest stereo sound, Grumiaux's performances still stand the test of time. James Leonard