For the Record, Op. 75: Bomsori Kim; Baiba Skride
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!
Pianist Rafal Blechacz and violinist Bomsori Kim. Image courtesy Deutsche Grammophon.
Debussy, Fauré, Szymanowski, Chopin
Bomsori Kim, violin
Rafal Blechacz, piano
How did they met? It's a rather modern story: Polish pianist Rafal Blechacz was watching the 2016 International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition on television when he was especially impressed by the playing of Korean violinist Bomsori Kim, who ultimately won second prize. At the time, Blechacz was looking for a chamber music partner, so he sent her an e-mail. "Luckily for me, she accepted my musical invitation!" he said. Bomsori was surprised and pleased to receive the message from Blechacz, whom she knew to be the winner of the 2005 International Chopin Competition and whose album of works by Debussy and Szymanowski was familiar to her. For their first album, they perform works by Fauré, Debussy, Chopin and Szymanowski. This spring the duo will perform repertoire from the album live on tour at venues in South Korea and Europe. BELOW: Bomsori Kim and Rafal Blechacz talk about how they met, and their new collaboration, with excerpts from the album.
Heino Eller
Baiba Skride, violin
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Olari Elts conducting
Baiba Skride performs works by Estonian composer Heino Eller (1887-1970), including his Violin Concerto in B Minor and Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra. The recording also includes his Symphonic Legend and Symphony No. 2. Though his work has remained obscure, Eller is considered one of the "founding fathers" of Estonian music and was a professor of composition at at the Tartu Higher School for Music and then Tallinn Conservatory. Among his many students was Arvo Pärt. BELOW: Baiba Skride performs Heino Eller's "Fantasy for violin and orchestra" with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.
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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January 25, 2019 at 11:49 AM · Bomsori Kim has been my favorite of the young upcoming violinists since she participated in the Queen Elisabeth Competition some time ago. She has been working so hard for the top violin competitions over the past few years with consistent results. She is solid as a rock and highly musical. I am so glad she is finally entering the spotlights.