For the Record, Op. 51: James Ehnes' Walton Viola Concerto; Christian Tetzlaff's Bartok Concertos 1&2

April 12, 2018, 12:16 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!

James Ehnes. Photo by Benjamin Ealovega.

Walton: Viola Concerto
James Ehnes, viola
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Edward Gardner conducting

James Ehnes leaves his violin to tackle the taxing soloist role in William Walton's well-known and well-loved Viola Concerto. "This is a piece I have loved since I was a teenager, so it is wonderful that the opportunity has come my way to record it," Ehnes told The Strad. This album also features two later works: the 1957 "Partita for Orchestra" and the "Sonata for String Orchestra," adapted in 1971 from the String Quartet in A minor of 1945-47. BELOW: The first movement from Walton's Viola Concerto.

Bartok: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Christian Tetzlaff, violin
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu conducting

Christian Tetzlaff performs Béla Bartók;s two violin concertos with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hannu Lintu. The two violin concertos of Béla Bartók, completed 30 years apart in 1908 and 1938 respectively, celebrated relationships with two Hungarian violinists: the first romantic, with Stefi Geyer and the second artistic, with Zoltán Székely. Bartók's first Violin Concerto was published after the composer's death in 1956, but Bartók reused the opening movement as the first of his "Two Portraits" for orchestra. Bartók completed two movements that portray the character of Stefi Geyer, to whom the work was dedicated. Completed towards the end of 1938, Bartók's second Violin Concerto was dedicated to Zoltán Székely. BELOW: The entire live concert that features first Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2, then Concerto No. 1.

If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our Thursday "For the Record" feature, please e-mail Editor Laurie Niles. Be sure to include the name of your album, a link to it and a short description of what it includes.

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For the Record, Op. 51: James Ehnes' Walton Viola Concerto; Christian Tetzlaff's Bartok Concertos 1&2

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