LUKAS FOSS
Foss: Ode / Renaissance Concerto / Three American Pieces / Symphony No. 1 in G major Amy Porter (flute) Nikki Chooi (violin) / Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta [ Naxos American Classics / CD - due 24/May/2024 ] Berlin-born Lukas Foss studied music in Paris before settling in Philadelphia in 1937. Though he freely explored diverse compositional styles, three of the works in this recording fall into his early neo-Classical period and exemplify his dictum that... |
VALENTIN SILVESTROV
Silvestrov: Symphony for Violin and Orchestra / Postludium for Piano and Orchestra Janusz Wawrowski (violin) Jurgis Karnavičius (piano) / Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Lyndon-Gee/ [ Naxos / CD - due 24/May/2024 ] Berlin-born Lukas Foss studied music in Paris before settling in Philadelphia in 1937. Though he freely explored diverse compositional styles, three of the works in this recording fall into his early neo-Classical period and exemplify his dictum that... |
EDWARD ELGAR / MAX BRUCH / ARTHUR BLISS
The Bel Canto Violin Vol 5 Alfredo Campoli (violin) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Adian Boult, Arthur Bliss [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2018 ] One of the most significant violinists in gramophone history, Alfredo Campoli enjoyed tremendous success in the 1930s as a purveyor of light music, both in concerts with his own salon orchestra and on Decca. A series of six 2CD reissues from... |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Violin Concertos Nos 1 & 2 Alina Ibragimova (violin), State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia 'Evgeny Svetlanov', Vladimir Jurowski (conductor) [ Hyperion / CD - released 5/Jun/2020 ] GRAMOPHONE Award WINNER 2021 - Concerto BBC Music Award Nomination 2021 - Concerto |
JOHN WILLIAMS
Williams: Violin Concerto No. 2 / Selected Film Themes Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin) / Boston Symphony Orchestra, John Williams [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 10/Jun/2022 ] Deutsche Grammophon is proud to present the world-premiere recording of John Williams's Violin Concerto no.2. The work was written for and recorded by the venerated composer's friend and frequent collaborator Anne-Sophie Mutter. |
JOHANNES BRAHMS / CLARA SCHUMANN
Brahms: Double Concerto & Clara Schumann: Piano Trio Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Pablo Fernandez (cello), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Manfred Honeck, Lambert Orkis (piano) [ Sony Classical / CD - released 4/Nov/2022 ] An aristocrat of the string world is united with one of its most exciting newcomers - this is the first joint album by Anne-Sophie Mutter and Pablo Ferrández. |
CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD
Stanford: Suite for Violin and Orchestra Op 32 / Violin Concerto in D major Op 74 Anthony Marwood (violin) / BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins [ Hyperion Romantic Violin Concerto Vol 2 / CD - released 15/Nov/2000 ] 2001 GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST - Concerto - "A first recording for the Violin Concerto, and a performance unlikely to be bettered. Anthony Marwood is the impassioned soloist" |
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto / Sérénade mélancolique / Valse-Scherzo Joshua Bell (violin) Midori (violin) / The Cleveland Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy, London Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin [ Decca Virtuoso / CD - released 23/Apr/2012 ] "Bell's is a masterly performance full of flair, Ashkenazy's contribution adds considerably to the performance." Gramophone |
KORNGOLD / SHOSTAKOVICH / MAHLER / etc
Nicola Benedetti - The Silver Violin Nicola Benedetti (violin) / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits [ Decca Music Group / CD - released 13/Sep/2012 ] "Benedetti decorates this repertoire with gleaming high-register pirouettes, plus vibrato throbs and hesitations that never descend into schmaltz...Such good taste is a pleasure, though her discretion can make the music paler than necessary." (The Times) |
MAX BRUCH / PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Bruch/Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos Nicola Benedetti (violin) / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jakub Hrusa [ Decca Classics / CD - released 23/Feb/2012 ] "Nicola Benedetti can be proud of this disc...there's a flexibility, a confidence and a rapport here that makes for consistently rewarding listening" (International Record Review) |
BOHUSLAV MARTINU
Martinu: The Complete Music for Violin and Orchestra (Vol 4) Bohuslav Matousek (violin) / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Hogwood [ Hyperion / CD - released 20/Sep/2008 ] "In these beautifully recorded performances, both Christopher Hogwood and Bohuslav Matoushek have a profound understanding of Martinu's style and the Czech Philharmonic responds with radiant playing." (BBC Music) |
GABRIEL FAURE
Faure: Requiem & other works BLU-RAY Chen Reiss (soprano), Matthias Goerne (baritone) & Philippe Aïche (violin solo) / Choir of the Orchestre de Paris & Orchestre de Paris, Paavo Järvi [ EuroArts BLU-RAY / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Feb/2014 ] ""The expert choir's native French vowel sounds are a joy in themselves, [and] Eric Picard gives a mesmerising account of the haunting cello Elegie....Unmissable." (International Record Review) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Triple Concerto / Symphony No 7 Daniel Barenboim (piano/conductor), Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello) / West-Eastern Divan Orchestra [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 15/May/2020 ] "This is a fine, generously-filled and well-recorded album of Beethoven's music, in traditional performances that are very good." MusicWeb May 2020 |
PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky - None But The Lonely Heart [Incls Violin Concerto] Daniel Lozakovich (violin) / National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, Vladimir Spivakov [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 29/Nov/2019 ] "the entire album is hugely enjoyable and offers ample proof that the violinist, still in his teens, is no mere flash in the pan." Gramophone Editor's Choice March 2020 |
VARIOUS
David Garrett - Iconic David Garrett (violin), Franck van der Heijden, orchestra the Prezent [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 9/Dec/2022 ] The inspiration behind this album was the golden age of the star violinist. Players such as Heifetz, Kreisler, Francescatti, Grumiaux and, of course, the great Yehudi Menuhin are all idols of mine, and that's why I chose the title Iconic" - David... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No 5 / Violin Concerto (Piano transcription) Diedre Irons (piano) / Christchurch Symphony Orchestra / Marc Taddei, Conductor [ Trust / 2 CD - released 25/Dec/2004 ] Completing the cycle of Beethoven's piano concertos, this 2-CD set also includes the rarely heard piano transcription of the Violin Concerto. |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons Donald Armstrong (violin) / New Zealand Chamber Orchestra [ Atoll Records New Zealand / CD - released 18/Nov/2002 ] "In a market crowded with versions of these concerti, the NZSO Chamber Orchestra has given us a first-class, vivid, well-recorded reading. The solo passages feature Donald Armstrong obtaining the sweetest, liveliest tones from his 1754 Gagliano... |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
The New Four Seasons - Vivaldi Recomposed Chineke! Orchestra, Elena Urioste (violin), Max Richter [ Deutsche Gramophone / CD - released 10/Jun/2022 ] When Max Richter's Recomposed first exploded into our collective ears almost a decade ago, a 59-minutes-28-seconds sonic starburst, the effect for so many people was total. We hadn't heard anything like that, ever. |
SAMUEL & AVRIL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR
Coleridge-Taylor: African Suite / Violin Concerto / Nonet in F minor / etc Elena Urioste (violin), Chineke! Orchestra [ Decca / 2 CD - released 30/Sep/2022 ] "..one of the biggest and best collections of his music yet released. At its heart is the heavenly Violin Concerto; Elena Urioste and the orchestra under Kevin John Edusei give a wonderful performance full of fiery spirit and delicacy." BBC Music |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Violin Concertos 3 & 4 Francesa Dego (violin), Francesca Leonardi (piano), Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Roger Norrington (conductor) [ Chandos / CD - released 21/Sep/2021 ] "These performances capture the very essence of Mozart's Salzburg style best, setting up, meticulously matching and weaving in and out of the solo line with captivating suppleness and alertness." Five Stars BBC Music Recording of the Month Nov 21 |