James Ehnes - Barber, Korngold, Walton: Violin Concertos
List Price:
Our Price: $10.93
You Save: $6.06 (36%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: James EhnesComposer: Samuel Barber
Composer: Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Composer: William Walton
Conductor: Bramwell Tovey
Orchestra: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2006-10-31
Music Label: Cbc
Soundtracks:
- I. Moderato Nobile
- II. Romance: Andante
- III. Finale: Allegro Assai Vivace
- I. Allegro
- II. Andante
- III. Presto In Moto Perpetuo
- I. Andante Tranquillo
- II. Presto Capriccioso Alla Napolitana
- III. Vivace
Music reviews of Barber, Korngold, Walton: Violin Concertos
Music Review: A Rising Violin Star Plays Three 20th-Century Romantic Violin Concerti Gorgeously
Rating: 5 Stars
This disc featuring Manitoba-born violinist James Ehnes (pronounced 'Ennis') confirms for me my suspicion that he is one of the best of the younger generation of violin soloists on the concert circuit. I had heard and greatly admired his earlier recordings of Bach's Unaccompanied Violin Partitas and of Mozart's five Violin Concerti, but this is the first I've heard him play anything from the Romantic violin concerto literature. And although these three concertos -- those by Korngold, Barber, and Walton -- are from the twentieth century they are quintessentially Romantic in thrust.
Korngold's luscious concerto, written in a style I've always thought of as '1940s Hollywood chromatic' (think of Raksin's 'Laura' or Korngold's own film scores) was premiered by Heifetz in 1947 (recorded by him in a best-selling recording of the period) and incorporates themes from several of Korngold's film scores (e.g., Another Dawn, Juarez, Anthony Adverse and The Prince and the Pauper). Ehnes's tone is perhaps less cholesterol-rich than some but he plays this crowd-pleasing work with conviction and brilliance, using robust or delicate tone where called for. He is particularly effective in the songful middle movement and in the set of variations that make up the finale.
The story is well known of how Barber was commissioned to write his violin concerto for the protégé of a rich industrialist only to have the young violinist refuse to play it because the finale was technically too difficult. The first two movements brim with ultra-lyrical themes that are underscored by plush orchestral accompaniment that place the soloist directly in the spotlight. The finale -- presto in moto perpetuo -- is a knuckle-busting showpiece. All three movements are given sensational performances by Ehnes.
William Walton's Violin Concerto has been given marvelous recordings by Kyung-Wha Chung, Lydia Mordkevitch and, best of all, by Nigel Kennedy, the latter with the spectacularly effective orchestral accompaniment by the Royal Philharmonic conducted in nonpareil fashion by André Previn. Tough competition. But Ehnes, accompanied here as in all three concerti by the superb Vancouver Symphony under Bramwell Tovey, is definitely in the same league as the others. The Walton is not, in its first two movements, as technically demanding as the Korngold or Barber, but it may be the most emotionally complex of the three; it does not do well in the hands of young and emotionally inexperienced violinists. One need have no fear of a deficit in that regard by Ehnes. This is a superb rendition that eschews flash for emotional radiance. The Walton's finale -- presto capriccioso alla napolitana -- is fiercely difficult, however, written as it was for Heifetz who had asked for something demanding; it is a tarantella with a slew of off-accents, awkwardly placed (but breathtaking) double-stops and superhumanly complicated bowing. Ehnes manages all this with aplomb.
This disc is quite frankly a must-have for lovers of these three concerti. I for one will be eager to hear anything Mr Ehnes chooses to record and will certainly be on the look-out for Ehnes performances anywhere near my neck of the woods.
Strong recommendation.
Scott Morrison
More Barber, Korngold, Walton: Violin Concertos free music reviews:
1
1
Description of Barber, Korngold, Walton: Violin Concertos
2008 GRAMMY Award Winner - Soloist with OrchestraClassical CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Classical CDs
Winterscapesby London Philharmonic
Prophetic Voice; Published: 2000-07; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
The Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebeeby Dini Petty
Children's Group; Published: 2001-03; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.38
Price in other shops:
Classical Kids - Beethoven Lives Upstairs CdrRelease date: 2000-04-05; Music CD
Best price: $24.98
Tchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos))by Malcolm Sinclair, Jeremy Siepmann
Naxos; Published: 2003-11; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $35.99
![Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS] Image](/images/Jose-Carreras-Jubileum-Concert-VHS-1584481471-X.jpg){kind=small}
Jose Carreras - Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS]Sling Shot; Release date: 2000-04-18; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.86
Price in other shops:
![Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS] Image](/images/Tchaikovsky-The-Nutcracker-Nureyev-Park-Royal-Ballet-VHS-156127092X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-09-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.88
Price in other shops:
![Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS] Image](/images/Lonely-Town-Lonley-Street-Sergeant-Early-Dream-VHS-1561270857-X.jpg){kind=small}
Rambert Dance Company - Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-10-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Winter Music: Composing the Northby John Luther Adams
Wesleyan; Published: 2004-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $21.88
Price in other shops:
![Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Puccini-La-Fanciulla-del-West-Santi-Domingo-Neblett-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720382-X.jpg){kind=small}
Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.38
Price in other shops:
![Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Verdi-Falstaff-Giulini-Bruson-Ricciarelli-Nucci-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720358-X.jpg){kind=small}
Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
James Ehnes - Paganini: CapricesRelease date: 2010-01-12; Music CD
Best price: $15.16
Price in other shops:
Bach: The Six Sonatas & Partitas for Solo ViolinRelease date: 2007-04-05; Music CD
Best price: $20.91
Price in other shops:
Elgar: Violin Concerto; Serenade for StringsRelease date: 2008-01-08; Music CD
Best price: $16.45
Price in other shops:
Niccolo Paganini: 24 Caprices For Solo ViolinRelease date: 2003-06-24; Music CD
Best price: $6.14
Price in other shops:
James Ehnes in RecitalRelease date: 2009-09-29; Music CD
Best price: $13.97
Price in other shops:
James Ehnes - French Showpieces (Concert Français) - James EhnesRelease date: 2002-04-09; Music CD
Best price: $12.47
Price in other shops:
Mendelssohn: Violin ConcertoRelease date: 2011-01-11; Music CD
Best price: $14.91
Price in other shops:
Milos Karadaglic - MediterraneoRelease date: 2011-06-21; Music CD
Best price: $9.56
Price in other shops:
Ehnes Plays BruchRelease date: 2008-06-24; Music CD
Best price: $13.18
Price in other shops:
James Ehnes, Mozart - Mozart: Violin ConcertosRelease date: 2006-02-07; Music CD
Best price: $23.22
Price in other shops: