Janine Jansen’s new recording: CD of the Month for November 2015
This CD features an innovative coupling of the Brahms Violin Concerto together with Bartók’s Violin Concerto number 1.
I have admired Janine Jansen for many years. I have posted about her playing, and her passion, and her excellence. As is often the case, one thing is left for me: I want to meet her in person! Perhaps this will take place one day…
Two famous concertos receive amazing performances in Janine Jansen’s latest recording. She presents her profound insights into Johannes Brahms’ Violin Concerto and also the youthful Béla Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1.
She recorded the Brahms with the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and the Bartók with the London Symphony Orchestra, both conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano.
Johannes Brahms was inspired to create his only violin concerto during the summer of 1878 by his old friend, the violinist Joseph Joachim. The concerto includes very difficult passages and a Finale filled with the energy and spice of Hungarian gypsy music.
Bartók’s first violin concerto, written in 1907-08, but it was not published until the late 1950’s. This concerto also includes elements of traditional music from the composer’s native Hungary. Its strongest influence, however, proved to Steffi Geyer, the strikingly beautiful young Hungarian violinist with whom Bartók was deeply in love.
Here is an older recording of the Brahms concerto as performed by Janine Jansen:
