For the Record, Op. 308: New Recordings by Kristen Lee, James Ehnes, Roman Simovic

November 24, 2024, 3:10 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 Kristen Lee. Photo by Harrison Truong.

American Sketches
Kristin Lee, violin
Jeremy Ajani Jordan, piano
Jun Cho, piano

When violinist Kristin Lee moved from Seoul, Korea to the United States at age seven - not speaking any English - the violin became her voice, as well as a refuge from bullying and racism. Now a U.S. citizen - and member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and faculty at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Lee recorded this album of works by American composers to express pride in the country she now calls home. "My inspiration for American Sketches lies in the celebration of differences," Lee said. "The variety of musical styles represents the diverse culture of America, showcasing the beauty of individual expression and the celebration of American history." The album contains works by John Novacek, George Gershwin, James Louis ‘J.J.’ Johnson, Scott Joplin, Amy Beach, Henry 'Harry' Thacker Burleigh, Jonathan Ragonese, Kevin Puts and Thelonious Monk. BELOW: Album trailer

Brahms & Schumann
James Ehnes, viola
Andrew Armstrong, piano

James Ehnes picks up the viola for his first recording of the two Brahms Sonatas Op. 120 of 1894, in the composer’s arrangement for viola and piano. Originally written for clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld, Brahms made subtle changes for the viola versions, and in so doing he greatly enriched the viola sonata repertoire with these two late masterpieces. Schumann composed his Märchenbilder (Fairy Tale Pictures) in a few days in March 1851. They are imbued with a potent sense of fantasy – imagination runs riot, from melancholy to drama. James Ehnes plays on the 1696 "Achinto" Stradivari viola for this recording, courtesy of the Royal Academy of Music. BELOW: Ehnes performs the first-movement "Allegro amabile" from the viola-piano version of Brahms' Clarinet Sonata No. 2, Op. 120 No. 2.

Rózsa – Bartók: Violin Concertos
Roman Simovic, violin
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle and Kevin John Edusei conducting

Today, Miklós Rózsa is best known for classic film scores like "Ben-Hur" and "Lust for Life." Living in America, yet yearning for his native Hungary, Rózsa took a momentary step away from Hollywood to write a violin concerto. Taking center stage for this recording is London Symphony Orchestra Leader, Roman Simovic, who joined the Orchestra in 2010. The accompanying work on this album is by Rózsa’s fellow Hungarian, Béla Bartók, whose Violin Concerto No 2 was known simply as his Violin Concerto throughout his life. His other concerto, written two decades earlier, was only published after the composer’s death. BELOW: the third-movement "Allegro vivace" from Miklós Rózsa's Violin Concerto, Op. 24:

If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our "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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