October 26, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Janine Jansen has recorded a rarity. In her opinion Britten violin concerto deserves a place between the top standard often played iron violinrepertoire, like Beethoven she also recorded:
If you open her website www.janinejansen.com you hear the first 1.22 minutes the 2th movement of Britten.
I think Britten will be not been often played because it is quite modern like Stravinsky and Schoenberg violin concerto, so more difficult to understand this music for a more broader audience. So Romantic violinconcerto's will be more popular.
Here the score of Britten of another version:
I'm delighted that she thought so highly of the Britten's VC. I tend to agree. You won't believe how many professional violinists I have introduced this piece to during the last year or so. I just can't believe these fine concert violinists had never heard of this piece before I met them, but the reality seems that professional violinists just don't have the time to listen to a lot of recordings, nor check your blogs:)
Thank you for posting this.
Yixi
The interview was interesting. Beethoven is a "hot" concerto these days. We ear about it everywhere. Britten, I didn't know but it seems great.
Anne-Marie
Janine's great, I saw her perform with the Cleveland Orch. a couple of seasons back. Not only was her playing fantastic, but she also exuded charm and charisma.
I've never thought of the Britten VC as terribly modernistic, but as I heard the snippet of her playing it, it seemed she brought out some modernistic-sounding elements I hadn't really picked up in the recording I usually listen to (Vengerov/Rostropovich). I guess that's what a great interpreter does.
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