Violin Concerto

To celebrate Colin Matthews' 70th birthday NMC release this new album featuring a star-studded line-up of artists, including conductors Riccardo Chailly, Oliver Knussen, Rumon Gamba, and soloists Leila Josefowicz (violin) and Anssi Karttunen (cello).

Over four decades Colin's output of over 130 works has ranged from solo piano music through five string quartets and many ensemble and orchestral works. This album showcases three of his large-scale orchestral pieces; the dark, Mahlerian Cortège (1988) being the earliest work recorded here. Matthews' Violin Concerto (2009) was composed for Leila Josefowicz and Colin says it "emerged naturally from her musical personality, style and technique". Matthews' Cello Concerto No.2 (1996) was composed for Mstislav Rostropovich, who gave its first performance with the London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Colin Davis at the Barbican, London, on 17 September 1996.

Three great works, then, to celebrate the three score and ten of a remarkable polymath.

Leila Josefowicz violin
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Oliver Knussen conductor
Anssi Karttunen cello
Rumon Gamba conductor
Royal Concertgeouw Orchestra
Riccardo Chailly conductor