Track Listing

1. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: Allegro moderato
2. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: Adagio di molto
3. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: Allegro, ma non tanto
4. Violin Concerto: 1st movement
5. Violin Concerto: 2nd movement
6. Violin Concerto: 3rd movement

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #158753 in Music
• Released on: 2007-10-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Customer Reviews

The Immensely Talented Batiashvili
The young and inordinately talented and beautiful Elisabeth ('Lisa') Batiashvili has conquered Europe and is making strong impressions here in the USA. She is an artist to watch and follow as her intelligence and musicality make her an important member of the echelon of important young violinist of the time. In this very beautifully balanced recording the listener is treated to a live performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto in D Minor, recorded in 2007 in Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland with Sakari Oramo conducting the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra as well as the World premiere recording of Magnus Lindberg's Violin Concerto.

Batiashvili's approach to the Sibelius is one of moody atmosphere and she early establishes the plangent themes of the first movement and allows those themes to grow to the point of explosive energy without ever pushing the sound to the point of stridency. The second movement Adagio glows with a stillness and simplicity rarely heard from other interpreters of this concerto and the final movement Allegro is an incisive interaction with the orchestra. The performance is a live recording so the balance between the violin and the orchestra favors the soloist. Batiashvili's phrasing is impeccable and the overall performance contains the drama too often missing from studio recordings. This is a very fine Sibelius recording.

The second work on this solid CD is the Violin Concerto by Magnus Lindberg and is an excellent pairing - two Finnish concerti played by a violinist clearly associated with both Sibelius and Lindberg. The work is in three unmarked movements and displays all of the lush orchestration and creative idea developments that mark this important composer's works. Batiashvili brings sumptuous, rich sound to the extended lines and compelling dexterity to the fiendish, rapid sections. Hers is a very dramatic approach that suits Lindberg well. This concerto, in its world premiere recording, is immediately accessible to the listener, but it is also obvious that repeated listenings will uncover many of the fleeting, beautiful lines he has written for both the soloist and orchestra. For now, the concerto belongs to Batiashvili. Oramo offers strong collaboration form a lushly recorded studio setting of this mighty score. For those who love the Sibelius concerto this is a recording to cherish - enhanced by the introduction to yet another great violin concerto by Lindberg. Grady Harp, April 08

Spectacular Sibelius and Lindberg Violin Concertos from Batiashvili and Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Having heard Lisa Batiashvili perform live with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra last season, I knew I was in for a treat with her 2007 recording of the Sibelius and Lindberg Violin concertos. Her rendition of the Sibelius violin concerto - now regarded as one of the genuine classics of the violin concerto literature - may be the finest I have heard lately, that is replete with ample emotional color as well as virtuoso technical playing; qualities which shouldn't surprise the listener since she made her triumphant international debut playing this concerto back in 1995 at the Sibelius Competition in Helsinki, placing second at age 16 as its youngest ever competitor. Not surprisingly, this is a work she has treasured for years, and one that has much personal as well as musical meaning for her. Of equal importance is the violin concerto composed by Magnus Lindberg for her that she debuted two summers ago with New York City's Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra. More than Sibelius' concerto, the Linderberg piece emphasizes virtuoso playing. Musically it is a fascinating contrast between traditional Classical forms and contemporary musical ideas that are musically accessible to the listener; this is a work that deserves to be heard often in concert halls throughout the world. In both works, Batiashvili has able, quite sympathetic, partners in conductor Sakari Oramo and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra; in particular, the orchestra's winds and strings offer exemplary playing in both works. In the liner notes Batiashvili refers to the "Nordic qualities" of both works as among the most important reasons why they share this recording; it is an interesting assessment that I can't argue with, judging from the sterling musicianship of this fine artist.

Beautiful woman creates beautiful music
I was lucky enough to attend a concert with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra with Lisa Batiashvilli as soloist and was absolutely thrilled.
She is terrific. The only thing negative about this recording is that you can't see how poised and elegant she is; no histrionics, just gorgeous music played exquisitly.