From the archives
Andrew Mcgregor revisits great recordings by the widely loved and admired violinist Jaime Laredo
Born 80 years ago, Bolivian-american Jaime Laredo might be one of the finest violinists you’ve overlooked. So catch up now with Jaime Laredo: The Complete RCA and Columbia Album Collection (Sony 19439870202; 22 CDS). Laredo was the viola player in the famous piano quartet with Isaac Stern, Yo-yo Ma and Emanuel Ax; listen to the warmth of Laredo’s playing in their Brahms and balance is restored – Stern called him the glue that held them together.
Winning the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition before he turned 18, Laredo made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1960, by which time he was celebrated on postage stamps at home in Bolivia
(his name picked out in musical notes La, Re, Do). His RCA Victor debut was an LP of showpieces, and a Brahms Sonata and solo Bach whose poise, grace and big, beautiful tone place Laredo among his own violin heroes: Heifetz, Milstein, Oistrakh, Szigeti and, above all, Stern, with whom he was to play for 15 years.
The Marlboro Festival was where Laredo met Pablo Casals and Rudolf Serkin. From 1960s Marlboro there’s a joyful Beethoven Triple Concerto with Serkin and Leslie Parnas, a famous Schubert Trout Quintet with Serkin, Mendelssohn’s Octet, Ravel chamber music, and (later) Schönberg’s Serenade Op. 24. Then Bach Sonatas with Glenn Gould in 1975. Serendipity, apparently; they hadn’t met, and started by singing Bach to each other down the phone, before recording at night in Gould’s favoured Toronto ballroom. Gould is as quirky, intense and vocal as you’d expect, Laredo a generously expressive, communicative foil. Chamber music with Ax, Stern and Ma is the beating heart of this set, but don’t overlook the Korngold Suite with Leon Fleisher at the back of the box, and the early concerto recordings.
It’s not the complete Laredo story, but the love and respect offered by Ax and Ma in the notes are generous tribute to a kind, gentle friend and the artistry of a remarkable musician.
Andrew Mcgregor is the presenter of
Radio 3’s Record Review, broadcast each Saturday morning from 9am until 11.45am