Janine Jansen plays Prokofiev.
I love Janine Jansen’s playing, because her performances are full of emotion, and she displays great feeling in whatever she performs.
On this CD, we hear the following selections:
- Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski conducting.
- Sonata for Two Violins in C Major, Op. 56, with Boris Brovtsyn (violin).
- Violin Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 80, with Itamar Golan (piano).
Performed by Janine Jansen (violin).
When she played the Prokofiev concerto in London, the Times wrote that “she is a violinist who is right now on matchless form … a player that you follow wherever she leads.”
Prokofievs Violin Concerto No.2 was composed during the 1930’s, and it has the same tunefulness and emotional directness as his ballet Romeo and Juliet, whose love music is beautifully recalled in the songlike lyricism of the concerto’s slow central movement.
For contrast the concerto is coupled with two Prokofiev chamber works:
The expressive Sonata for Two Violins (1932); and the darkly tragic Violin Sonata No.1, which constitutes the composer’s memorial to those many friends and colleagues lost during the World War.
Track Listings:
Prokofiev Violin Concerto #2:
1. I. Allegro moderato
2. II. Andante assai
3. III. Allegro, ben marcato
Sergei Prokofiev: Sonata in C major for 2 Violins, Op.56
4. I. Andante cantabile
5. II. Allegro
6. III. Commodo
7. IV. Allegro con brio
Sergei Prokofiev: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.1 in F minor, Op.80
8. I. Andante assai
9. II. Allegro brusco
10. III. Andante
11. IV. Allegrissimo Andante assai, come prima
Ms. Jansen explores all of this music completely, and the result is a wonderful performance. This recording is indicative of the power of Janine Jansen as a major artist in the field of violinists.
Here is Janine Jansen in the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2:
And next, Here is Ms. Jansen, talking about the concerto:
Finally, here is Janine Jansen in a beautiful performance of Bach’s Adagio from the First Sonata for solo violin:
Tags: Janine Jansen, Prokofiev, Violin Concerto #2, Sonatas, Bach
