Composer: Mieczysław Karłowicz, Karol Szymanowski
Performer: Tasmin Little
Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Edward Gardner
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Chandos
Catalogue: CHSA5185
Release: 2017
Size: 1.21 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Szymanowski: Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 35
01. I. Vivace assai
02. II. Ancora poco meno
03. III. Vivace scherzando
04. IV. Tempo comodo
05. V. Vivace
Szymanowski: Violin Concerto No. 2, Op. 61
06. I. Moderato
07. II. Allegramente
08. III. Andantino
09. IV. Tempo I, allegramente
Karłowicz: Violin Concerto in A major, Op. 8
10. I. Allegro moderato
11. II. Romanza. Andante
12. III. Finale. Vivace assai
None of these three Polish violin concertos are terribly common on concert programs. They are fearsomely virtuosic, and British violinist Tasmin Little meets the challenges in every way that could be desired. Sample the finale of the five-movement Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 35, of Karol Szymanowski, with the long, double-stop-strewn, cadenza-like passage in the middle answered by orchestral tumult. It’s an exciting work throughout, and the Violin Concerto No. 2, Op. 61, of 1933, is even better, with strong folkloric elements pared down to compact statements in a fascinating way that suggests Szymanowski had been listening to Bartók and trying to reconcile his discoveries with his own language. The final concerto by Miezyslaw Karlowicz is a bravura work in the Tchaikovskian vein, especially at the very beginning where Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23 is the clear model.