SIBELIUS • NIELSEN
Violin Concertos

Classics Today [4/28/2006]:
Artistic Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 10
"This sensational disc has served as a reference edition for both concertos since it was first issued back in the late 1980s. The Sibelius concerto is distinguished by the tension between Lin’s passionate and virtuosic account of the solo part and Salonen’s remarkable precision at the head of the orchestra. Listen, for example, to the remarkable rhythmic clarity at the opening of the finale, and to the way this serves to “float” Lin’s daredevil pyrotechnics up above. It’s just marvellous. The same holds true of the Nielsen–there is no finer account of this neglected concerto. It’s a rarity because in the finale Nielsen subordinates flash and dazzle to the work’s overall emotional arc, progressing from anger to contentment. That doesn’t mean the music isn’t excellent, or that Lin and Salonen’s performances aren’t gripping from first note to last. They tear into the opening movement with apt ferocity and find the necessary emotional resolution in the work’s amiable conclusion. The detailed, well-balanced sound ideally suits the interpretations. Essential." --David Hurwitz (reviewing reissue Sony Classical SK 92613)

JEAN SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D minor, Op. 47
1. I. Allegro moderato (16:41)
2. II. Adagio di molto (8:09)
3. III. Allegro ma non tanto (7:33)
CARL NIELSEN (1865-1931)
Concerto for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 33
4. I. Largo (18:48)
5. II. Poco adagio (6:44)
6. III. Rondo: Allegretto scherzando (10:31)
Total Timing: 69:17

Cho-Liang Lin, violin
Philharmonia Orchestra (1-3)
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (4-6)
Esa-Pekka Salonen

Recorded at Watford Town Hall, London, 1987 (1-3) & Berwald Hall, Stockholm, 1988 (4-6)
Produced by Steven Epstein
Recording engineers: Tim Geelan (1-3), Bud Graham (4-6)
Remote technical supervisors: Graham Kirkby (1-3), Peter Jones & Lars Hedh (4-6)
Assistant engineer: Peter Lorimar (4-6)
Post-production engineer: Bud Graham
Music editor: Tom MacCluskey
® & © 1988 CBS Records Inc.
MK 44548