Violin concertos

"Liya Petrova won the 2016 Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition which made this disc of Nielsen's only Violin concerto inevitable ... I have a soft spot for the Odense Symphony, having spent time taking sommerhus holidays on Funen, and know how good they and their concert hall are from firsthand experience ... If the coupling of the Nielsen and Prokofiev appeals then you are in for a rare pleasure with Liya Petrova's lovely playing".

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"Klassik CD-Tipp: Mit Yannick Nézet-Séguin und dem Chamber Orchestra of Europe hat Lisa Batiashvili und musikalisch einfühlsame Begleiter. Zwar ist Prokofjews Zweites Violinkonzert nicht ganz so inspiriert ist wie das unvergleichlich schöne Erste. Aber zumindest der langsame Satz mit seiner berührenden, weit ausschwingenden Melodie bietet Batiashvili eine weitere Gelegenheit, ihre ganz besondere Stärke auszuspielen: Sie kann singen auf ihrem Instrument, wunderbar natürlich und gerade darum tief berührend".

" In their mix of lyricism and sharp-edged rhythmic and harmonic piquancy, Ehnes and Moretti are absolutely spot on in defining the music's character. This is playing that truly grabs you by the scruff of the neck and commands attention. So, too, is Ehnes's in the solo sonata, a work from towards the end of Prokofiev's life but still one in which he was able to harness his energies and his distinctive personality".

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"Vurdering: Ugens cd" - "Nogle gange gør en stor, samlet præsentation sig bedre end en nålestiksmanøvre. Sådan er det med Ugens Cd. Den indeholder al violinmusik af Prokofjev - syv værker, der minder om hinanden og så alligevel ikke. At lytte til dem i sammenhæng er som at ride på en fantastisk bølge, der aldrig holder op".

"Petrova plays with exceptional tonal variety. But what impresses me most, perhaps, is the way she binds phrases together ... The Odense Symphony Orchestra play with confidence and character under Kristiina Poska, and seem as absorbed in their music-making as Petrova, particularly in the Prokofiev. A marvellous disc".

"Vadim Gluzman has now set down all Prokofiev's major works for solo violin, albeit spread over separate releases ... For some listeners it will be sheer gain that he draws such ripe, old-world sonority from a famous violin once played by Leopold Auer ... Less happily, the orchestra is sometimes relegated to a mistier accompanimental role. Darting forwards with apparent spontaneity, Gluzman is as feisty a storyteller as any I've heard ... A positively explosive account of the Sonata for solo violin, which certainly has you forgetting its origins as a pedagogical exercise".

"Prokofiev's two wonderful violin concertos make a most suitable coupling on disc and admirers of this figted young artist will need no second bidding to acquire this latest recording of hers, for she plays all three works with love and affection ... demonstrating her undoubted qualities with quite compelling artistry".

"Steinbacher also ditches some of the fairy-tale magic, making the piece [Concerto no. 1] seem 'bigger' through generally slower tempi and a wider range of expressive effects ... If Steinbacher can be more ponderous than her rivals, she is also more original and it helps that she is so well served by both her accompanists ... Vasily Petrenko directs the Russian National Orchestra with his customary precision ... The verdict? Better try before you buy, although audiophiles and surround sound aficionados should not hesitate".

"I like Batiashvili's gentle swagger ... She perfectly captures the music's sardonic spirit without overdoing the aggression. I also appreciate her free-flowing way ... Batiashvili is a very fine advocate of both works who lacks just an element of personality".

"I have not heard such a beautiful performance of the First Violin Concerto since Itzhak Perlman's 1982 EMI recording, and Ehnes enjoys the advantage of a more natural balance with the orchestra ... Ehnes smoothes some of the First Sonata's rough edges ... Yet its menace and brutality emerge clearly enough ... A real winner".

"Vurdering: Gramophone choice" - "Ehnes's particular combination of matchless virtuosity, sweet tone, flowing tempi and interpretative restraint suits all this music down to the ground. You sense that we are in for a special performance of the D major Concerto (No. 1) even before the soloist enters, Noseda eliciting a special quality of fairy-tale unreality ... Strongly recommended".

"This desirable collection allows the listener to follow Prokofiev across a span of 34 years ... With it, I finally hear what all the excitement around Ehnes is about - my admiration increased the more that I played it".