The Slipped Disc daily comfort zone (20): They said it couldn’t be done

David K. Nelson says:

Steven has it right – Chopin on violin is a very old tradition going back to Sarasate, Wilhelmj, Auer and other 19th century greats. It takes up a full column in Margaret Farish’s “String Music in Print.” And I seem to recall Arthur Conan Doyle, speaking through Sherlock Holmes, recounted Lady Neruda (Wilma Norman-Neruda) excelling in a piece by Chopin.

I think it was Ernest Newman who once wrote something to the effect that Chopin’s music sounds so much better when played on violin that it is astounding that Chopin himself was not aware of that fact.

Indeed Ruggiero Ricci recorded an entire CD of Chopin Nocturnes arranged for violin and piano, including this marvelous Milstein transcription but also some by himself, Prihoda, Huber and other names (One-Eleven label, URS 90010). Margaret Campbell’s book “The Great Violinists” quotes Ricci as saying that keyboard music played on violin is a great way to build technique, that Milstein agreed, and that Milstein and Ricci, finding themselves on the same train, entertained themselves by playing through the Chopin etudes on violin, all of which they knew by heart.

But it is this Milstein arrangement that has become a favorite of violinists. There are many fine recordings but why look elsewhere when there is Milstein himself? This particular recording of the Chopin arrangement is from 78s. Milstein recorded it again in more modern sound. Both recordings feature that perfect Milstein poise and exquisite beauty of tone and touch. His version of a Consolation by Liszt is similarly masterful.