This is an aside, but does Finster have any favorite recordings? My two cats, Sasha a Russian Blue and Liza a tuxedo cat just love Colin Davis' recording of Berlioz Les Troyens with the LSO, and any recording with Jessye Norman. They sit in front of my speakers mesmerized. They absolutely cannot tolerate that Rautavaara recording with all the arctic birds howling btw.

Grumiaux has also been my reference in Mozart's chamber music. So humble, so gentle, so lyrical, so unpretentious. The divertimento in particular is a pairless gem, which produces the collateral effect of getting the listener also fall in love with the viola.

Grumiaux & Haskil. Just heaven!

GREAT VIDEO, & I can say that every great violinist I have spoken to is in full agreement regarding Grumiaux and Mozart. He is and has always been the "reference" guy on how perfectly to play Mozart.

Thank you, Dave, for revewing this set. Grumiaux is one of those names I grew up hearing about, but I have never sampled his art, never known what made him so great. Thanks for this introduction to someone I should know better. Wesley

Thank you, Dave, for keeping the memory of Arthur Grumiaux alive. You described his artistry most eloquently. His recordings of the Vieuxtemps Concertos #4 and #5 are the reference recordings for me, even over the Heifetz recordings. 🙏🏻🎻

That most of these are reference recordings is attested by the fact that, with the exception of the mono Violin Concertos, they have never been out of the catalog. The Violin Sonatas with Klien, the Quintets, Trio, and Duos were all recycled in Phillips's complete Mozart edition, and many, including the Violin Concertos with Davis are still available as inexpensive Phillips Duos. Reissue alert: The Derek Solomons Haydn Symphonies are back! I greatly enjoyed those recordings when they were issued in the 1980's, and it seemed at the time that Sony was embarking on a complete Haydn symphony cycle--in which case, it would have been the first on period instrument. Unfortunately, the series was discontinued, possibly to make way for Sony''s Haydn recordings with Tafelmusik. Of the two period ensembles, Tafelmusik is the more refined, but Solomons' "L'Estro Armonico" produces the more interesting interpretations. In any case, its good that the latter have been resurrected. Up for a review, Dave?

Thank you Dave. I've been binge listening to Grumiaux's Mozart (string quintets and violin sonatas with Haskil) lately because of your fabulous recommendation.

I have most of these, Grumiaux being my co-favourite violinist with David Oiistrack. I never found that these recordings spoiled my appreciation for other performances [live or recorded], but have never felt the need to buy any alternative Mozart Violin Music. You may not agree, but my two favourite vintage violinists are Adolf Busch, and Fritz Kreisler. I have very few Kreisler recordings these days, not least because most of the transfers from 78 sides are not very good! Busch fared better with transfers for some unaccountable reason. As ever I so enjoy your videos, whether I would conclude the same or not. You are the professional, and I am only a retired player. Best wishes from George in Herefordshire.

I remember being absolutely stunned by the slow movement of the Sinfonia Concertante with Arrigo Pellicia and Colin Davis/LSO on that "reference" double CD of the Violin Concertos. The phrasing and interplay of the soloists brought out emotional depths that I'd never heard before and don't think I've heard equalled since. A fantastic work, still maybe the greatest for multiple solo instruments? (The Beethoven TC and Brahms DC tend to split opinions). With the Violin Concertos I get the feeling that Mozart at age 19 said all that he wanted to say in that format (including some real ingenuity in No.5) and never felt the need to return to it later, apart from the SC where again he produced something new and remarkable.

Spot on!!!

He's such an amazing violinist. I wish he would have recorded the Paganini Caprices.

Dave, interested to hear your take on Brilliant's new-ish Smetana box (8 CDs), available on Amazon for 30 bucks?

I have some of those CDs separately. Really great recordings (and in stereo, for me it's important). So, it's a worthy one, for sure... )

Unfortunately, the box is nowhere to be found, apparently

Have the Perlman/Barenboim recordings of the violin sonatas ever been considered as candidate reference recordings for that repertoire?

I had imagined Finster to be male 😂 Lovely name, gorgeous cat, just the same.

I’m still looking for his giant decca box…I guess my search is gonna be unrewarded 😢😢

Am I correct in assuming that Grumiaux's group didn't do any of the quartets? I know and love his Quintets and String Trio (Divertimento), but it is strange -- and a pity -- that a group that did such marvellous recordings didn't also do Mozart's string quartets.