For the Record, Op. 321: Christian Li; violist Timothy Ridout; Renaud Capuçon

February 21, 2025, 2:08 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! Click on the highlighted links to obtain each album or learn more about the artists.

Violinist Christian Li.

Tchaikovsky
Christian Li, violin
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko conducting
Nicola Eimer, piano

"I fell in love with Tchaikovsky’s music when I was very young, particularly with his ballets. My fascination began after watching The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty," said Australian violinist Christian Li, who gained recognition at age 10 as youngest-ever winner of the Menuhin Competition in 2018. Now 17, Li releases an all-Tchaikovsky album, including the Violin Concerto as well as Valse sentimentale, Valse-Scherzo, Nocturne, and arrangements of the "Russian Dance" from Swan Lake and "Waltz of the Flowers" from the Nutcracker. Li performs on the 1737 "ex-Paulsen" Guarneri del Gesù, on loan from a private benefactor. BELOW: Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op.35: II. Canzonetta.

Telemann - Bach - Britten - Shaw
Timothy Ridout, viola

"As a violist, one is used to being surrounded by colleagues, whether in a duo, trio, quartet, quintet, larger ensemble, or even playing a concerto with orchestra. This means one always has an energy to respond to and the chance for dialogue; so when I began working on this programme a few years ago, it was a special challenge and musical adventure, one which I have relished. It has been a chance to explore some of the greatest music ever written, and also to discover my own musical voice," said British violist Timothy Ridout. The programme spans centuries of unaccompanied music, from Telemann to Shaw to Britten, concluding with Bach’s Second Partita. "The Chaconne has been an absolute fascination of mine since I was around 13 years old. I listened to countless recordings of great violinists playing the Partita and was always transfixed by this single movement which seems to encompass the world." BELOW: Telemann Fantasia No. 7.

Sibelius / Barber Violin Concertos
Renaud Capuçon, violin
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Daniel Harding conducting

French Renaud Capuçon calls the Sibelius Concerto a "mix of ice and fire" and the Barber Concerto "full of tenderness" - while these concertos are completely different, they felt like the right pairing. BELOW: a trailer for the album.

Beethoven & Brahms
Elif Ece Cansever, violin
Lucas Krupinksi, piano

For her debut album, violinist Elif Ece Cansever performs Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata and Brahms’ Violin Sonata No. 3 with pianist Lukasz Krupinski. "As musicians, we strive to understand the emotional weight these composers infused into their music," Cansever said. "The Kreutzer moves from turmoil to triumph, mirroring Beethoven’s journey through despair, while Brahms’ third sonata reveals a more joyous, reconciled soul, following Clara Schumann’s encouragement." BELOW: Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47 "Kreutzer": I. Adagio sostenuto - Presto

Górecki: Complete Works for String Quartet
Silesian Quartet

The Gramophone Award-winning Silesian Quartet presents a double album of the complete works for string quartet by their compatriot Henryk Górecki. All three of his numbered string quartets were written late in life – the first in 1988 – and all three were commissioned by the Kronos Quartet. The First Quartet is a single-movement work, based on a sixteenth-century song by Waclaw of Szamotuly. The Second, double the length of the First, is subtitled "quasi una fantasia" and follows a classical four-movement form, subtly referencing Beethoven. Górecki completed the Third Quartet (double the length of the Second) after the Symphony of Sorrowful Songs had catapulted his music to much wider acclaim. It extends to five movements and is considered by many to be one of his greatest compositions. In the 1980s and 1990s, Górecki composed several collections of choral songs. Five Kurpian Songs is based on folksongs from Kurpie, a region north-west of Warsaw. The composer himself suggested that these works would be effective when performed by a string quartet, and here the Silesian Quartet performs the world premiere recording of that version. BELOW: String Quartet No.3, Op. 67 "... songs are sung": III. Allegro

Crossings - Duos from Baroque to 21st century
Patricia McCarty, viola
Bill Zito, guitar

Featuring music by Telemann, Paganini, Paul Kont, John Hawkins, Günter Braun, Roberto Sierra, Luigi Legnani, Granados, de Falla and Joaquin Nin, this album explores 300 years of music created for viola and guitar. BELOW: Goyescas: Intermezzo

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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For the Record, Op. 321: Christian Li; violist Timothy Ridout; Renaud Capuçon

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