Britten: Violin Concerto, Chamber Works

Isabelle Faust (violin), Alexander Melnikov (piano), Boris Faust (viola), Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Jakub Hrůša

HARMONIA MUNDI
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After Berg, Schoenberg, Bartók and Stravinsky, Isabelle Faust now tackles Britten with Jakub Hrůša and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, revealing a little-known facet of the British composer. This concerto, highly personal in its language, combines drama with humour, seriousness with satire, in music of overwhelming emotional depth. The programme is completed by early chamber works.
Violin Concerto op. 15 (1939, 1958)
1. I. Moderato con moto – Agitato – Tempo primo (10’05)
2. II. Vivace – Animando – Largamente – Cadenza (8’24)
3. III. Passacaglia: Andante lento (Un poco meno mosso) (15’05)

Isabelle Faust, violin Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks Jakub Hrůša, conducting Live Recording, Munich Isarphilharmonie, 28-29 October 2021· Reveille concert study for violin with piano accompaniment (1937) (4’53)

Suite for violin and piano, op. 6 (1936)
4. Introduction (0’37)
5. I. March (2’24)
6. II. Moto perpetuo (2’58)
7. III. Lullaby (4’14)
8. IV. Waltz (5’18)

Two Pieces for violin, viola and piano (1929) World première recording
9. I. Un poco andante (6’29)
10. II. Allegro con molto moto (4’23)

Isabelle Faust, violin Boris Faust, viola Alexander Melnikov, piano

“Faust’s cadenza has real emotional involvement, and builds urgently towards the final Passacaglia, where conductor Jakub Hrůša leads the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra to a full-toned climax, before the soloist re-enters.” – BBC Music Magazine

“In the Concerto, Faust digs deep and her tone has a visceral immediacy that goes straight to the heart of the music. She is unafraid and unflinching, and vividly unleashes the passion in these pages with mesmeric power, symbiotically partnered by Jakub Hrůša.” – Gramophone

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