Recuerdos in Bloomington, MN

The "
Recuerdos
" title of this release by violinist
Augustin Hadelich
might suggest a program of sentimental Spanish encores, and indeed there is one here, inventively arranged from the guitar original by
Francisco Tarrega
, that gives the album its title. There is also a fine performance of
Sarasate
's finger-busting
Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25
, but the Spanish flavor in concert music was deeper than the exoticism of these works, and its influence has lasted a long time.
Hadelich
does well to explore some of its deeper ramifications. The centerpiece is
Benjamin Britten
's technically fearsome
Violin Concerto, Op. 15
, written as a lament about the Spanish Civil War.
is superb in the stately passacaglia finale, maintaining the long line despite an unusually slow tempo from conductor
Cristian Macelaru
and the
WDR Symphony Orchestra
. The Spanish tinge is less definite in
Prokofiev
's
Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63
(consisting largely of some castanets), but perhaps, for this reason, it makes an effective foil for the
Britten
. This is a fine example of the violinist's art, with technical brilliance and a fresh programming idea. ~ James Manheim