Mozart: The Violin Concertos

Violinist has recorded some of 's violin concertos in the past, but this , on which he leads the as well as playing the solo violin parts, is different in flavor, with a precise yet easy sense of collaboration between violin and orchestra. At times, as in the slow movement of the , he gets the alchemy that makes these rather frothy works by the young come alive with irresistible lyricism. In general, he takes some inspiration from the historical performance movement, cultivating a clean sound in the orchestra and somewhat minimizing the vibrato. The orchestra is thus nicely set off from 's breezy, just slightly sentimental style. contributes idiomatic sound from the Theatre de Beaulieu in Lausanne. At first, this set may seem to break little new ground, but that is not what it is about. Repeated hearings will reveal a good deal of quiet elegance. ~ James Manheim