RODRIGO
Complete Orchestral Works Asie Polo (cello), Mikhail Ovrutsky (violin) / Castille and León Symphony Orchestra, Max Bragado-Darman [ Naxos Spanish Classics / CD - released 2/Dec/2002 ] |
SPOHR
Concertos for Two Violins Nos. 1 and 2 Oyvind Bjora (violin) / Henning Kraggerud (violin) / Barratt Due Chamber Orchestra / Oslo Camerata / Stephan Barratt-Due [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Mar/2010 ] Louis Spohr's life-long artistic commitment to elegance, sturdy workmanship and emotional reticence has burdened him with a reputation as a nostalgic conservative. Yet his melodic mastery, delicately poised Classical sensibility and advanced... |
JOHANNES BRAHMS / ANTONIN DVORAK
Brahms: Double Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op. 102 / Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104 (Recorded 1929, 1937) Pablo Casals (cello) Jacques Thibaud (violin) / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. George Szell. Pablo Casals Orchestra of Barcelona. Alfred Cortot [ Naxos Historical Great Cellists / CD - released 29/Mar/2004 ] "Casals's glorious Dvorak concerto, recorded in Prague in 1937, sounds as good as ever, or, rather, better: Naxos's remastering genius, Mark Obert-Thorn, has produced an amazingly rounded, detailed sonority." - The Sunday Times (David Cairns) |
NICOLAI PAGANINI
Paganini: Violin Concertos Nos 1 & 2 Ilya Kaler (violin) / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Stephen Gunzenhauser [ Naxos / CD - released 10/Aug/2009 ] "There is no lack of dazzle in the fireworks, and no damp squibs here. With very good notes, this is an excellent example of a Naxos super-bargain at its best." Penguin Guide |
ELLEN TAAFFE ZWILICH
Violin Concerto / Rituals Pamela Frank (violin) / NEXUS IRIS Chamber Orchestra [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 20/Jun/2008 ] "This is one highly enjoyable disc, enthusiastically recommended!." -- Victor Carr Jr, www.classicstoday.com |
GIAN FRANCESCO MALIPIERO
Malipiero: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / etc Paolo Chiavacci (violin) / Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma, Francesco La Vecchia [ Naxos / CD - released 10/Jun/2022 ] |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Death And The Maiden Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin) / The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 15/Apr/2018 ] Grammy Awards 60th Awards (2017) - Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance |
ALFRED SCHNITTKE
Works for Violin and Orchestra Patrik Swedrup, Tale Olsson, Christian Bergqvist (violin) / Stockholm Chamber Orchestra / Lev Markiz (conductor) [ BIS / CD - released 1/Dec/1991 ] For various reasons Bis been in the position to remake the packaging of this disc from the back catalogue. They have done so by updating the cover and modernizing the insides of the booklet. The recording itself is of course the original one. |
SIBELIUS
Works for Violin and Orchestra (Includes Six Humoresques) Pekka Kuusisto (violin and conductor) / Tapiola Sinfonietta [ Ondine SACD / SACD - released 20/Aug/2006 ] MARBECKS STAFF RECORDING OF THE YEAR 2006 - "..."Conductor" Kuusisto insists he merely plays the violin along with his compatriots in Swanwhite. Whatever his instrumental contribution, the total effect warrants my recommending this disc for Best of... |
SEBASTIAN FAGERLUND
Violin Concerto 'Darkness in Light' / Ignite for orchestra Pekka Kuusisto (violin) / Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/Feb/2015 ] An earlier recording of orchestral works by Sebastian Fagerlund was described in BBC Music Magazine as displaying 'boundless technical resource at the service of a considerable imagination'. These qualities, and his receptivity towards different... |
SIBELIUS
Violin Concerto / Karelia Suite / Belshazzar's Feast (Suite) Pekka Kuusisto (violin) / Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra / Leif Segerstam [ Ondine / CD - released 20/Sep/2006 ] "Pekka Kuusisto joyfully rejuvenated the Sibelius Violin Concerto, situating it somewhere between Bachian cogitation and rustic fiddling. Kuusisto had the added charm of being funny." The New Yorker |
NICO MUHLY / PHILIP GLASS
First Light: Muhly & Glass Pekka Kuusisto (violin), Nico Muhly (piano) Norwegian Chamber Orchestra [ Pentatone / CD - released 8/Oct/2021 ] Violinist Pekka Kuusisto and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra present First Light, the first fruit of Kuusisto's tenure as the ensemble's Artistic Director, on which two eminent New York composers are cast in a Nordic light. The album offers the world... |
ACCOLAY / BERIOT / RIEDING / SEITZ / VIOTTI
Concertos From My Childhood Itzhak Perlman (violin) / The Juilliard Orchestra, Lawrence Foster [ Warner Classics Perlman Complete Warner Recordings / CD - released 20/Jan/2016 ] Perlman, always generous in sharing his wisdom with young musicians, here provides model performances of five delightful works that have furthered the development of generations of budding players. The orchestra is from New York's Juilliard School,... |
LUGWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Triple Concerto / Choral Fantasia Itzhak Perlman (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Daniel Barenboim (piano) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim [ Warner Classics / CD - released 6/Feb/2017 ] "They perform with the most tender expression in the slow movement, and there are fireworks from all three in the last movement" James Longstaffe |
MISSY MAZZOLI
Mazzoli: Dark with Excessive Bright Peter Herresthal (violin) / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Arctic Philharmonic, James Gaffigan, Tim Weiss [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 3/Mar/2023 ] Grammy Awards 66th Awards (2024) Nominee - Best Contemporary Classical Composition Nominee - Best Classical Compendium |
PER NORGARD
Nørgård: Three Nocturnal Movements / Symphony No. 8 / Lysning Peter Herresthal (violin), Jakob Kullberg (cello) / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra John Storgårds, conductor [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 15/Sep/2023 ] Celebrating his 90th birthday in 2022, Per Nørgård is undoubtedly one of the most important Danish composers since Nielsen. |
KAIJA SAARIAHO
Saariaho: Circle Map, Graal Théâtre & other works Peter Herresthal (violin), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra / Clément Mao - Takacs [ BIS SACD / CD - released 6/Sep/2019 ] Several of Kaija Saariaho's works are named after natural phenomena that serve as a starting point to her compositional process. Composed in 1998, Neiges was inspired by various qualities of snow and explores instrumental languages and colours... |
HELLSTENIUS / MATRE
Violin Concertos Peter Herresthal (violin) / Stavanger Symphony Orchestra / Rolf Gupta [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 25/Mar/2016 ] With an uncommon dedication to the music of our own time, the Norwegian violinist Peter Herresthal has become recognized as an inspired interpreter of contemporary works for the violin. Previous, acclaimed releases include concertos and chamber works... |
PER NORGARD
Norgard: Violin Concertos Nos 1 & 2 / Spaces of Time Peter Herresthal (violin) / Stavanger Symphony Orchestra / Rolf Gupta [ BIS / CD - released 1/Dec/2011 ] "Herresthal plays compellingly...The 'filler' is scarcely less substantial than the concertos...The Stavanger Symphony Orchestra deliver sensitive accompaniments in the concertos and relish taking centre stage in Spaces of Time. Gupta, a former... |