For the Record, Op. 256: Christian and Tanja Tetzlaff; Frank Peter Zimmermann; Paul Huang; Aisslinn Nosky

October 6, 2023, 4:23 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!

Violinist Christian Tetzlaff, conductor Paavo Järvi and cellist Tanja Tetzlaff.

Brahms-Viotti-Dvorak
Christian Tetzlaff, violin
Tanja Tetzlaff, cello
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Paavo Järvi conducting

This album by siblings violinist Christian Tetzlaff and cellist Tanja Tetzlaff is dedicated in the memory of their longtime artistic partner, pianist Lars Vogt (1970–2022). At the heart of this album is Brahms, one of Lars Vogt’s favorite composers, and his Double Concerto. Brahms himself had admired one of Viotti’s violin concertos so much that he included material from the violin concerto into his work. With Christian Tetzlaff’s recording of the violin concerto, this album finally brings these two works together. Also included is Dvorák’s Silent Woods for cello and orchestra, a work by another composer that was very close to Lars Vogt’s heart. BELOW: Double Concerto in A Minor, Op. 102: II. Andante

Bach Sonatas and Partitas, Vol. 2
Frank Peter Zimmermann, violin

Violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann waited until the fourth decade of his career to take on Bach’s Sei solo a Violino, the six sonatas and partitas for solo violin. Zimmermann compares these works to "a mighty tree, which protects me and crushes me at the same time," the music giving him hope and strength at the same time as it confronts him with his limits as a violinist. On this new release, a follow-up to his 2022 album Bach Sonatas and Partitas, Vol. 1, he performs Sonata No. 1 in G minor, Partita No. 1 in B minor and the Sonata No. 3 in C major. BELOW: Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: V. Chaconne

Kaleidoscope
Paul Huang, violin
Helen Huang, piano

"These are all in great pieces that highlight virtuosity in the most lyrical and poetic sense," said violinist Paul Huang. "They are very, very close to my heart, I just want people to fall in love with violin. Huang's new album offers works by Respighi, Paganini, Saint-Saëns, and Chopin played on the 1742 "ex-Wieniawski" Guarneri del Gesù. BELOW: Trailer for the album:

Mozart Violin Concertos, Vol. 2
Aisslinn Nosky, violin
Handel & Haydn Society

Mozart’s Violin Concertos need little introduction and are some of his most well-known and best-loved works. Despite being written when the composer was just 19 years old, they feature Mozart at his elegant, witty and beguilingly changeable best. Handel and Haydn Society with their inspirational concertmaster, Aisslinn Nosky, bring Mozart’s musical magic to life in these live recordings from Boston’s Symphony Hall. BELOW: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219: I. Allegro aperto (Live)

Passacaglia
Pavel Berman, violin
Maria Meerovitch, piano

Performing on a Stradivarius once owned by David Oistrakh, violinist Pavel Berman is joined by pianist Maria Meerovitch for violin sonatas by Shostakovich (a piece written for Oistrakh) and Respighi, two works characterized by their contrasting passacaglia finales. Born in Moscow, Pavel Berman won the Second Prize in the 1987 Paganini Competition aged 17 and First Prize and the Gold Medal at the 1990 Indianapolis International Violin Competition. BELOW: Ottorino Respighi's Violin Sonata in B Minor, P. 110: I. Moderato

Ennio Morricone: Cinema Rarities for Violin and String Orchestra
Marco Serino, violin
Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto

The idea for this album came about during the recording of its predecessor Cinema Suites, when the Morricone family sent Marco Serino, the composer’s chosen violinist, a number of rarities that they hoped could also be recorded, particularly "Dedicated to Maria" (from the film The Sleeping Wife) which Morricone had dedicated to his wife. The program features three suites named after three Italian film directors (Silvano Agosti, Mauro Bolognini and the Taviani brothers), with whom Morricone worked closely. BELOW: Silvano Agosti Suite: La ragion pura (From "Dedicato a Maria"):

Beethoven, String Quartets Opp. 74 & 130
Chiaroscuro Quartet
Alina Ibragimova, violin by Andrea Amati, 1570
Pablo Hernán Benedí, violine by Nicola Amati, c. 1675
Emilie Hörnlund, viola by Willems, c. 1700
Claire Thirion, cello by Carlo Tononi, 1720

"Chiaroscuro" – "light-dark" – is the Baroque painting technique, which through the contrast of the brightly-lit subject against a dark background immensely heightens the artist’s power of expression. With gut strings and original bows, the Chiaroscuro Quartet strives for a sound which can only be hinted at by the antithesis of light and dark alone. Here they perform Beethoven's String Quartets Op. 74 & 130. BELOW: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: IV. Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai:

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