Brahms - Violin Concerto
Mozart - Violin Concerto No.3
Rachlin; Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra / Jansons
Warners 2564 615612

Release date October 2004

Although Julian Rachlin has been a presence on the international circuit for some years now, perhaps he needs an introduction. He's Lithuanian, 30 years old, and won the Eurovision Young Musician of the Year Award when he was 18. Around the same time, he recorded a very impressive Sibelius Violin Concerto with Lorin Maazel and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (for Sony). He made two further recordings for Sony, but has not been active in the recording studios for some time. Now, with his new record label, he has recorded the Brahms Violin Concerto along with the Mozart G major. One of the most remarkable features of his playing (it was evident in his Sibelius) is his ability to play pianissimo without any loss of colour. Try him in the final phrase of the slow movement of K216 - magical. Most violinists, reasonably enough, opt to direct Mozart concertos from the fiddle. Rachlin is partnered by Mariss Jansons, making (as far as I am aware) his first recording of Mozart. He coaxes sophisticated, stylish, thoroughly alert playing from his Bavarian orchestra - there's a particularly gorgeous response from his oboes. Rachlin's playing is somewhat reminiscent of his some-time teacher, Pinchas Zukerman; there's the same tight vibrato and easy command of line. It's all perfectly in scale, too; he never forgets which century Mozart lived in. The Brahms is superb; Rachlin and Jansons have a unanimity of view (a rarer occurrence than one might think in recordings of this piece) and once again the Bavarians distinguish themselves. Although the recording places Rachlin very much centre stage, the orchestral sound is hardly relegated to the background. Great stuff - this is one of the most impressive concerto recordings of the year.

Reviewed by Sandy Matheson