Jan Tomasow, violin, the Zagreb Soloists, Antonio Janigro
Vanguard LP HM 15SD
I find it almost impossible to write an impartial review of this recording because of so many memories being attached to it. Still, I will attempt to convey to you how much this performance means to me, and might mean to you, as well.
My first encounter with the records took place almost thirty years ago, when “our” Antonio revealed to me the true significance of the piece of another great Antonio, his famous namesake, whose “Le Quattro Staggioni” I could hardly listen any more because of the “grand”, actually to grand performances usual at that time, let alone enjoy them. What a change it was – a window into a new world; music is fast, precise and true to life, the intonation is correct, the continuo appropriate, and the violin of beautiful sound in fitting correlation with the Zagreb Soloists. The self-assured and fine tone of Jan Tomasow’s solo violin relates perfectly with the Soloists; the entire performance is impregnated with the spirit of Janigro’s perfectionism, leaving the music and its soul fully exposed. It had been for a long time the only performance I could listen. Only during last decade some new boys and girls, playing authentic instruments, have offered to me similar pleasure and insights into the music of Antonio Vivaldi and, to my great pleasure, Janigro’s performance is no longer the only choice for me. In my opinion, this also shows how Janigro’s performance in co-operation with the Zagreb Soloists was far ahead its time, as corroborated by Igor Stravinski who claimed that it was the most beautiful performance of “Le Quattro Staggioni” he had ever heard, a statement which I only recently learned about. No wonder, since such “bareness” and precision of Janigro’s interpretation must have appealed to him.
It was much later that I discovered the excellence of the recording itself. At that time, the Zagreb Soloists were recording for Vanguard, mostly in Vienna at various locations, and this particular recording was made in 1957 at Rotenturmstrasssaal. Recording was produced by Seymour Solomon, chief producer of the entire edition, who would personally come from the USA to oversee every recording to be made by the Zagreb Soloists, whereas the Vanguard branch in Vienna “Amadeo” was in charge of the organisation. (My gratitude to one of the founders of the Zagreb Soloists, Mr. Stjepan Aranjoš, for having provided me with quite a few insights). Janigro was a perfectionist, often rather merciless, not only in matters of music but also in terms of the sound, so he participated directly and intensely in recording process, which was quite uncommon at that time. All that great care, by all participants in the project, is amply reflected in the recording itself, resulting in an airy performance of appropriate spaciousness and extension, with only occasional “congestion” of high tones in forte sections.
Translator:Ivan Supek