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The Beethoven and Sibelius Violin Concertos....

A superb new recording of the Bach violin concertos from Giuliano Carmignola.  Perhaps the most intense and visceral set I've heard.  I was very impressed by Viktoria Mullova's rather more mellow recording a few years ago but Carmignola's set is much more fiery and gritty yet retains the lyrical sweetness of the music.  There is a sense here of not taking this music for granted  -  which remains as relevant as ever and should continue to challenge the listener.  What I value about Carmignola's playing is his economy of expression  - that perceived ability to play the minimum number of notes with the greatest possible emotional value, a quality that, I'm sure Claudio Abbado recognised and valued during the time he spent with him as leader of Orchestra Mozart - which is indicative of a clarity of thought that extends far beyond technical virtuosity.

He is supported on this recording by the veteran period ensemble Concerto Köln who emerge very much as equal partners in their response to the music.  The sheer vibrancy of the ensemble's sound seems to have provoked Carmignola into some of his most unbuttoned playing and makes me wish for more collaborations together.  Biber's Rosary Sonatas, perhaps, or some Corelli?  (The ensemble's exceptional performance also makes me anxious to hear their recent recordings of the Brandenburg Concertos and the Orchestral Suites.) 

I'm very familiar with the excellent recording of the Brandenburg Concertos that Carmignola made with Abbado but I hadn't heard his earlier foray into Bach, his recording with Andrea Marcon of the sonatas for harpsichord and violin.  This recording of the violin concertos makes me eager not only to hear that earlier recording but also for his take on the unaccompanied sonatas and partitas for violin which I am sure he will set down one day.  

Felix Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto
Orchestre Symphonie de Montreal
Kyung Wha Chung - violin
Charles Dutoit conducting.

Ludwig van Beethoven
Violin Concerto
Wiener Philharmoniker
Kyung Wha Chung - violin
Kirill Kondrashin conducting.

Lovely performance of Beethoven's violin concerto.

Gunar Letzbor is one of those artist that love to record the most obscure and forgotten repertoire that hardly anyone else touches, and I love him for that. This is a 10 CD set that explores music during the Hamburg Empire, not only in Austria and Hungary, but also Moravia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Krakow, Spain, Venice, Rome and Paris, quite a musical journey!
When I saw this set on Amazon I thought it was a compilation of previously published CDs, but no, all the music here, though recorded between 2002 and 2006 is new to CD. This is a feast of little known Baroque composers: Kusser, Dolar. Losy, Pagliardi, Mielczewski, Zieklinski, Nauwach, etc, though Vivaldi, Schmelzer and Muffat are also represented. The fabulous 25 minute Carlo Ambrogio Lonati Ciaccona is included [I heard Biondi play that!!!]. Treasure after treasure. This 10 CD set cost me 35 euros in Amazon.fr. [with the detaxe in my case] Not to be missed.

Congratulations on your finding that set Pepe. I listened to extracts on amazon and I was very taken with it I must say, well done.



Ludwig van Beethoven
Violin Concerto
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Jascha Heiftz violin
Charles Munch conducting.

Marvellous.

It´s a great find Seán.

I love the Heifetz version, the only problem is that he is recorded much too forward for comfort, but I understand that he demanded to be recorded that way.

mcq wrote:A superb new recording of the Bach violin concertos from Giuliano Carmignola.  Perhaps the most intense and visceral set I've heard.....   but Carmignola's set is much more fiery and gritty yet retains the lyrical sweetness of the music.  

That sounds very intriguing and interesting to me!

The ensemble's exceptional performance also makes me anxious to hear their recent recordings of the Brandenburg Concertos and the Orchestral Suites.

Even more intrigue and interest!!

Jose Echenique wrote:

That looks very interesting indeed Pepe. I will do what Seán did and listen to the extracts.

Recent listening: JC Bach's Endimione....





This is a lovely work, and very well played and sung. Its early Classical flavour is appealing.