For the Record, Op. 31: Anne Akiko Meyers; Rachel Podger; Noa Wildschut; Amadeus Quartet

October 5, 2017, 2:24 PM · Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening!

Fantasia
Anne Akiko Meyers, violin
Philharmonia Orchestra; Kristjan Järvi conducting

This album is named for the last work by Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, "Fantasia," which was written for and commissioned by Anne Akiko Meyers, who premiered the work after his death in 2016. The album also includes Karol Szymanowski's Violin Concerto No. 1, and Ravel's virtuoso showpiece Tzigane. Read more in our interview with Anne Akiko Meyers BELOW: Listen to excerpts from the album.

Grandissima Gravita
Rachel Podger, violin
Brecon Baroque

Violinist Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque perform works by Pisendel, Tartini, Veracini and Vivaldi that explore the sonata form for violin and continuo. BELOW: Gorgeous stuff, I. Andante cantabile, from Violin Sonata No. 5 in A Minor, by Giuseppe Tartini.

Mozart
Noa Wildschut, violin
Netherlands Chamber Orchestra; Gordan Nikolic conducting

Dutch violinist Noa Wildschut, 16, presents Mozart's Concerto No. 5; Sonata K. 454; and Adagio K. 261 in her debut recording with Warner Classics. "Mozart’s music has such a feeling of purity,” said Wildschut, "and the Fifth Violin Concerto is so gorgeous. Of all his violin concertos, this is the one that contains the most humor. It’s almost like a kind of opera, with all those different characters, really, a story is being told.” Noa composed the cadenzas she plays in the concerto, with some help from Dutch composer Max Knigge. "Max came up with the concept, and I invented some things around it … it really became something by us together. It has been written in a way that does justice to Mozart, including lots of little jokes." This week also marks the release of a documentary called A Family Quartet, about Noa and her family, which will run in cinemas in Holland this fall, with a worldwide release planned for early 2018. BELOW: Wildschut plays excerpts from Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5:

Amadeus Quartet: Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon
Amadeus Quartet
Norbert Brainin, violin
Siegmund Nissel, violin
Peter Schidlof, viola
Martin Lovett, cello

Founded 70 years ago, The Amadeus Quartet was one of the most highly regarded quartets of the 20th century until it disbanded in 1987. Deutsche Grammophon presents a 70-CD box set with several unreleased recordings, and an expansive book with an introductory note by cellist Martin Lovett, the sole surviving member of the Amadeus Quartet. Their Decca and Westminster recordings are also included in this set. BELOW: Selections from the CD set.