Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto
Tchaikovsky - Sérénade mélancolique
Tchaikovsky - Valse-Scherzo
Julia Fischer; Russian National Orchestra / Kreizberg
Pentatone PTC5186095

Release date January 2007

Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto is a difficult work to bring off. Not only is the writing for the soloist fiendishly difficult, but the ebb and flow of moods and tempi make it an awkward work for conductors to negotiate with any degree of ease. This new recording by 23-year-old Julia Fischer is remarkable for the way in which it surmounts both these obstacles. Fischer copes effortlessly with all the technical demands, the double-stopping perfectly in tune, the runs even, the harmonics pure as gossamer. She plays gracefully and musically with a clear, beautiful tone, without sounding in any way lightweight. Kreizberg and the orchestra are with her at every turn, generating a fine momentum in the first movement, displaying great tenderness in the folk-melodies of the Canzonetta and matching Fischer’s whirlwind approach in the Finale. The high standard is maintained in the couplings, the appearance of the relatively rare Valse-Scherzo an added bonus. I would certainly rank this new recording of the concerto ahead of Vengerov and Chung; my violinist colleague Heather reckons Milstein’s recording is the only other serious contender for top ranking. Pentatone’s sound is splendid.

Anne McAlister