• Most Respected Classical Music Platform
  • #classicalForever
TOP
Vadim Gluzman Violin Violinist Cover

VC DESERT ISLAND DOWNLOADS | Vadim Gluzman - '5 Recordings I Can't Live Without'

VC recently caught up with Ukrainian-born Israeli violin virtuoso Vadim Gluzman - for a fun game of VC Desert Island Downloads

The Violin Channel recently caught up with Ukrainian-born Israeli violin virtuoso Vadim Gluzman - for a fun game of VC Desert Island Downloads. 

We sat him down to pick his brain on which 5 CD recordings he would take with him to a deserted island - and how the tracks have helped shape him as a musician.
 

1. Glenn Gould's Complete Bach Goldberg Variations - from 1955 and 1981 Recordings 

"It's difficult to talk about an artist whose impact on our life transcends time.

Both versions of Goldberg Variations (while being very different in many ways) are all-encompassing, cosmic if you will, yet deeply human.

The most objective interpretations, yet extraordinary personal."

 

A State of Wonder - The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 & 1981 |3 CDS|

Glenn Gould

Johann Sebastian Bach

Release Date: September 3, 2002

Sony Classical

 

2. David Oistrakh's Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto - with Eugene Ormandy and Philadelphia Orchestra

"Nothing has been invented more beautiful than the sound of Oistrakh's violin.

He is the one violinist whose playing I adored when I was a young child, than a student, and if anything, I love his playing today even more.

Each and every note sings to the core of our soul in the ultimate recording of THE Russian violin concerto!"

 

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major & Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor |CD|

David Oistrakh

Eugene Ormandy

Philadelphia Orchestra

Release Date: 2011

Sony Music Classical

 

3. Alban Berg Quartet & Heinrich Schiff - performing Schubert's String Quintet

"It is difficult to imagine this piece played better...

I was fortunate to be introduced to this work through this recording.

Will never forget that first impression, I was so overwhelmed by emotion, by its eternal beauty and of course by the most stunning rendition...

The humility, purity and genuine feeling of this recording until now, almost 30 years later, still stands for me as one of the greatest examples of true music making."

 

Schubert: String Quintet in C |CD|

Alban Berg Quartett

Release Date: September 3, 2012

Warner Classics

 

 4. Barbara Hannigan's Abrahamsen "Let Me Tell You" - with Andris Nelsons and Bavarian Radio Orchestra 

"This piece for me was one the biggest musical impressions/discoveries of the last few years.

Song cycle, a setting of a novel by Paul Griffiths, is absolutely spellbinding.

Music is as poetic as is the subject, and Ms. Hannigan's voice is just magical."

 

Hans Abrahamsen: Let Me Tell You |CD

Barbara Hannigan

Andris Nelsons

Bavarian Radio Orchestra

Release Date: January 8, 2016

Winter & Winter

 

5. Carlos Kleiber's Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7 with Vienna Philharmonic

"Needless to say - Kleiber and Vienna Philharmonic was a extraordinary collaboration.

One of the greatest conductors of all time, the most enigmatic figure, Kleiber projects inhuman elegance, depth, and stunning sense of proportion. 

Quite simply mesmerizing..."

 

Beethoven: Symphony Nos. 5 & 7 |CD|

Carlos Kleiber

Vienna Philharmonic

Release Date:November 19, 2013

Deutsche Grammophon

 

upcoming events

july 2025

11julAll Day25Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld International String Competition(All Day) Harbin Grand Theatre, China, Heilongjiang, Harbin, Songbei District, 滨水大道 邮政编码: 150010Event Type :competitions Event TagsAlice and Eleonore Schoenfeld International String Competition,competition

august 2025

22augAll Day30Tibor Varga International Junior Violin Competition(All Day) Ferme-Asile, Promenade des Pêcheurs 10 1950 Sion SuisseEvent Type :competitions Event Tagscompetition,Tibor Varga

25augAll Day31Banff International String Quartet Competition(All Day) The Banff Centre, 107 Tunnel Mountain Drive Box 1020 Banff T1L 1H5 Canada Event Type :competitions Event TagsBanff International String Quartet Competition,string quartet

27augAll Day07sepFerruccio Busoni International Piano Competition(All Day) Il Teatro Comunale di Bolzano | Das Stadttheater von Bozen, Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, Platz 40, 39100 Event Type :competitions Event TagsFerruccio Busoni International Piano Competition,Piano Competition

31augAll Day07sepArturo Toscanini International Conducting Competition(All Day) Teatro Regio, Str. Giuseppe Garibaldi, 16/a, 43121 Parma PR, ItalyEvent Type :competitions Event TagsArturo Toscanini International Conducting Competition,conducting competition

31augAll Day07sepBartok World Competition - Piano(All Day) Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, Budapest Liszt Ferenc tér 8, 1061 HungaryEvent Type :competitions Event TagsBartok World Competition

CONTACT US
x

Get ALL your latest classical music news conveniently by EMAIL

Free – and trusted by 2 million+ readers monthly