Here's some of the favorite listening of the SPCO's first-chair violinist. He warns us, though, that he's got a lot of favorites and the list is ever-changing.

These recordings are available from

	© Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Steven Copes

1. Mischa Elman: The Victor Recordings with Frances Alda
Enrico Caruso and String Quartet
(Biddulph Lab 039)
These remastered recordings were made from 1913-1918, and represent a style of portamento and rubato that sadly doesn't exist anymore. The four songs with Caruso are real gems. I would also recommend the Fritz Kreisler/John McCormack recordings which are also available.

2. Schoenberg: Serenade, Op. 24 & Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 9
Marlboro Music Festival (Sony Classical 45894)
Two of my favorite Schoenberg works next to Verklärte Nacht. The Serenade is such an original piece - for septet, it includes a mandolin and guitar, as well as bass voice in the final movement and is twelve-tone music you can kick your heels to. The Chamber Symphony is led by the late violinist Felix Galimir, who knew Schoenberg quite well.

3. Mozart: Concertos for Two & Three Pianos
Radu Lupu and Murray Perahia, piano/English Chamber Orchestra
(Sony 44915)
This is such beautiful music-making! Lupu's Moments Musicaux of Schubert, or almost any of his Schubert recordings would also suffice, but I never tire listening to this disc.

4. Duke Ellington: Far East Suite—Special Mix
(Bluebird 07863)
This was one of the first CDs I ever bought. Listening to it makes me feel like I'm in some insanely busy Moroccan marketplace. . . .

5. Osvaldo Golijov: The Dreams & Prayers of Isaac the Blind for Clarinet Quintet
David Krakauer & The Kronos Quartet
(Nonesuch 79444)
I first heard this stunning piece at the El Paso Chamber Music Festival when I performed there in 1998. Isaac the Blind was a famous Kabbalist rabbi around 800 years ago, and this piece takes you back to that time and place. I can't wait to work on it!