I have admired James Ehnes for a long time; he is a Canadian violinist, who studied with Pinchas Zukerman.
On this recording, released earlier in 2017, we get to hear the Beethoven concerto, and his two Romances for violin and orchestra.
Beethoven’s Violin Concerto represents the supreme challenge for violinists. Far from being a virtuoso display piece, this is chamber music on a large scale, the last and greatest ‘classical’ violin concerto, giving the soloist no place to hide with a solo part that is often very exposed against sparse orchestral accompaniment.
A lukewarm reception at the concerto’s premiere in 1806 led to it being forgotten until Joseph Joachim resurrected it in the 1850’s and restored to its rightful position as one of the greatest and most popular concertos for the instrument.
This is James Ehnes’ first recording of this concerto, and he is supported sensitively by the award winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, with fellow violinist-turned-conductor, Andrew Manze. The combination of soloist, orchestra and conductor on this recording is a dream team.
Here is the opening of the Beethoven Concerto from tnis recording:
