Joshua Bell set Denver's Center for the Performing Arts on fire with his sizzling rendition of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E Minor. His bow began to fray even during the first allegro molto appassionato movement as he wove back and forth, dancing to the rhythm of his violin, his hair flying around his handsome face. This is one of two concertos Joshua has recorded twice (the other being the Tchaikovsky), in part because he wrote his own cadenza for the first movement and wished to include it on the Sony version of the concerto.

This music is all rather mournful, but then the story is true and it depicts a mournful period in the history of the world. It was not only six million Jews like the Bielskis and their families who were targeted for extermination, but also anyone of any background whom the Nazis thought unfit, including those who were developmentally disabled, mentally ill and just plain chronically sick. Many people of Romany extraction (that is, gypsies) were also killed. Then there were the civilian casualties of the bombing on both sides and the soldiers who gave their lives for the war effort.

I adore this CD. I do not know who chose the tracks from "Short Trip Home" to be included here, but I suspect it was double bassist Edgar Meyer, the producer of the original recording and also the composer of most of the material except for Joshua's solo in "Death By Triple Fiddle," which he wrote himself. Whoever chose the tracks from the earlier CD is a man after my own heart, for he chose my three favorite tracks. If you like bluegrass like I do, you really ought to order this CD, for it also features the incomparable fiddling of Mark O'Connor in many of his own compositions also.

I am crazy about this CD. The music from "Porgy and Bess" inspired me to go get the story from the local library to read, since it was not familiar to me. Too bad it's such a sad story, but the music is lovely. "Summertime" has long been familiar to me, since the days of the '60's when it was considered part of the standard folk music repertoire. Then I have a friend who plays jazz piano who used to pay it with great regularity, sometimes with saxophone accompaniment.

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for bluegrass music, since it was among my father's favorite things. This CD is not exactly traditional, since it features new compositions by Edgar Meyer, and one solo written by Joshua himself (in "Death by Triple Fiddle"). I must say that I think Joshua captures the essence of bluegrass fiddling very well. I confess to not being especially fond of the Concert Duo, though I like the Prequel. This is probably my own fault (a lack of sophisticated musical ear.) The rest of this CD is very original and lots of fun.

My absolute favorite Joshua Bell CD. I adore both of these compositions, and Joshua and the Los Angeles Phil under the direction of Esa-Pekka Salonen make this recording very special. Both concertos fit together hand and glove, and both are lovingly executed, with great feeling and panache. What an inspired choice to choose a Finn to conduct Sibelius. I'd love to hear one of these live someday.

This is another of my Joshua Bell favorites, along with his CD of Gershwin melodies. I love the "West Side Story Suite," containing at least snatches of all the best music from the great Broadway play and film. Then the selections from "New York, New York" and Candide are very fine, too. It's especially fun to hear Joshua playing the title song from "New York, New York" since he lives there and has for many years. His affection for the city comes through, though he also chose to play "Lonely Town" from the same musical.

Joshua has played a lot of music over the years in a lot of different styles, especially since coming to Sony 10 years ago. This CD is one of his best "classically classical" recordings. At first I thought he showed incredible nerve, writing his own cadenzas for these two concertos, but when I thought about it some more, I had to admit that there is probably no one playing today who could do it better. I have heard Joshua play the Mendelssohn live, and his affection for the piece really shines through.

The difference here is that I have not seen the movie, only listened to Joshua playing the soundtrack, and I think his performance of both new pieces by Nigel Hess and classical standards such as the lovely "Meditation from 'Thais'" is wonderful. If I read the liner notes correctly, it was not Joshua who laid down the musical tracks for the movie, just for the soundtrack. I adore the combination here of new music and old. Who else has ever written a duet for bassoon and violin but Nigel Hess?

This is one of my favorite Joshua Bell recordings. It's the only one I know of that he recorded before a live audience, and that fact inspires him, and the orchestra, to new heights of the nearest thing to perfection I can imagine. If you are a Bell fan and don't have this recording, please rush right out and get it! It's worth the investment of a little time and money. You won't regret it.