NIGEL KENNEDY

Polish Spirit

 

Młynarski: Violin Concerto in D major No. 2, op. 6

1. I Allegro moderato

2. II Quasi Notturno. Andante

3. III Allegro vivace

 

Karłowicz: Violin Concerto in A major, op. 8

4. I Allegro moderato

5. II Romanza. Andante

6. III Finale. Vivace assai

 

Chopin arr. K. Debski

7. Nocturne No. 1, op 9 (with Jakub Haufa, Concert Master)

8. Nocturne No. 2, op. 9 Andante

 

Total playing time: [71:29]

 

Nigel Kennedy

Polish Chamber Orchestra / Jacek Kapszyck

 

“All that designer stubble and estuary English can't disguise the high-class violinist he is.” - The Guardian

 

For over twenty-five years, Nigel Kennedy has been acknowledged as one of the world's leading violin virtuosos and is one of the most important violinists Britain has ever produced. His virtuosic technique, unique talent and mass appeal have brought fresh perspectives to both the classical and contemporary repertoire. He is the best selling classical violinist worldwide.

 

Nigel Kennedy has dedicated his latest recording to the near-forgotten romantic concertos by the Polish composers Emil Młynarski and Mieczyslaw Karłowicz. Polish Spirit captures Kennedy’s incandescent performances with the Polish Chamber Orchestra and conductor Jacek Kaspszyk.

 

It all started with an old state recording, handed to Kennedy by a member of the audience at a concert in Warsaw, set him on a journey of discovery that culminated in the present programme. The forgotten recording contained a performance of Młynarski’s second violin concerto and, when Kennedy listened to it, he was smitten. For the recording, he chose to couple it with the beautiful but rarely performed violin concerto by Mieczyslaw Karłowicz.

 

In conjunction with this studio recording, we are releasing a DVD version of the album, filmed at a concert in Poland. In addition to performances of the concertos, Kennedy delights his audience with three encores and the disc also features a 20-minute bonus documentary. The DVD shows the powerful interaction between soloist, orchestra, conductor and audience, the commitment and the enjoyment of the performance.

 

EMI 3799342