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<\/a>STRAVINSKY: VIOLIN CONCERTO, ETC. J<\/strong>ames Ehnes, BBC Philharmonic, Sir Andrew Davis\/Chandos <\/strong>The highlight of this first-rate all-Stravinsky SACD from Sir Andrew Davis and the BBC Philharmonic is James Ehnes\u2019s account of the composer\u2019s Violin Concerto. The concerto was composed between 1931 and 1932, having been commissioned by the violinist Samuel Dushkin with whom Stravinsky collaborated closely during the composition process, and the work is notable for its neoclassical style, a characteristic feature of Stravinsky’s work during that period. As one might expect from a thoughtful violinist like Ehnes, his performance offers much more than mere virtuosic display in the rhythmically complex \u2018Toccata\u2019 that opens the concerto and the \u2018Capriccio\u2019 with which it ends. In both of the central \u2018Aria\u2019 movements Ehnes stresses the lyricism of the music though never at the expensive of forward momentum. Davis and the BBC Philharmonic provide an accompaniment that is meticulous in observing the many dynamic and tempo changes in all four movements and the combination of the soloist\u2019s peerless technique and the conductor\u2019s eloquent and flexible approach to the score makes for a most refreshing account of the work. The Violin Concerto is followed by a crisply played account of \u2018Scherzo \u00e0 la russe\u2019, composed in the early 1940s for the Paul Whiteman band and later arranged for symphony orchestra, but one that to these ears doesn\u2019t quite have the jazzy swagger of Antal Dorati\u2019s classic Mercury recording. The two \u2018Suites for Small Orchestra\u2019 arranged from piano duets Stravinsky had written in the 1910s may be somewhat inconsequential within the composer\u2019s oeuvre, but these pristine performances from Davis show them in the best possible light. The final work on this disc is the ballet \u2018Apollon musag\u00e8te\u2019 (1928, revised 1947) that in keeping with the composer\u2019s emerging neoclassical style is scored for just a string orchestra. Davis and the ravishing BBC Philharmonic strings skilfully capture the ballet\u2019s classical poise and elegance aided by the clarity of the Chandos recording. Although there are a number of excellent recordings of this work available on SACD. to which this one may be confidently added, in the final analysis the alternative couplings will probably be the determining factor for most listeners. The sound of this album, recorded in February 2023 at MediaCityUK, Salford, is warm, detailed and expertly balanced by Sound engineer Stephen Rinker making this a very recommendable release.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"STRAVINSKY: VIOLIN CONCERTO, ETC. James Ehnes, BBC Philharmonic, Sir Andrew Davis\/Chandos The highlight of this first-rate all-Stravinsky SACD from Sir Andrew Davis and the BBC Philharmonic is James Ehnes\u2019s account of the composer\u2019s Violin Concerto. The concerto was composed … Continue reading