SIR EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934)

 

Violin Concerto in B minor Op. 61

Violonkonzert h-moll

Concerto pour violin en si mineur

1          I Allegro                                    17.36

2          II Andante                                 12.22

3          III Allegro molto                        18.54

 

Serenade for strings, Op. 20

Sérénade pour cordes

Serenade für Streicher

4          I Allegro piacevole                     3.26

5          II Larghetto                               5.42

6          III Allegretto                              3.08

 

James Ehnes - violin

Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir Andrew Davis

 

Total time: 61.08

 

Recorded live and at rehearsals at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London 17 and 20 May 2007

 

Sure to be one of the outstanding recordings for Elgar anniversary year, this quite outstanding Violin Concerto was recorded live in May at two performances given during the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Elgar series under the direction of outstanding Elgarian Sir Andrew Davis.

 

Andrew Davis has performed the Violin Concerto with many players over the years (though this is his first recording of it) and maintains that Ehnes’ is the finest of them – “he actually plays what Elgar wrote – and so musically!” And Classical Source wrote: “inspired a newly refreshed love for a familiar work. His intonation was impeccable, his control of the differing emotional elements was impressive and the end was truly magnificent, a fitting climax to a memorable interpretation." (17 May 2007) 

 

Ehnes gets better and better. Still only 30 this young Canadian is increasingly being recognised as one of the 4 or 5 most complete violinists on the planet. His previous ONYX release of Barber, Korngold and Walton Violin Concertos (ONYX4016) was universally praised, including Record of the Week in the Daily Telegraph and “an outstanding release in every way” from Edward Greenfield in Gramophone

 

Onyx ONYX4025