Julia Fischer does not ignore it in her explanation: why a CD with the apparently superficial Pablo de Sarasate? Nobody denies the historical importance of this Spanish violinist. After all, Saint-Saëns, Lalo and Bruch composed for Sarasate. As a composing violin virtuoso, Sarasate, however, has something secondary, as do Paganini and Kreisler. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Paganini
… was groundbreaking because of his virtuosity. Kreisler's pieces are moving because of their simplicity. Sarasate's lightly whistling violin tone reflects like a fragile crystal (a tone that, for Julia Fischer, is more like a brilliant diamond). However, we are used to the heavier repertoire of a serious person like Fischer. Fischer admits that she rarely plays Sarasate in public, and often only as an encore. Yet she points out that the great star violinists of yesteryear did not make such a sharp distinction between high art and entertainment. With this CD she therefore wants to convey pleasure and enthusiasm, which is something different from hollow virtuosity and violin technique. She sees every part of this CD as a little gem with a certain mood and a story. And it is exactly what she is trying to communicate. (HJ)more
