Alexander Mackenzie - Violin Concerto; Pibroch Suite (Malcolm Stewart)

Information

Composer: Alexander Mackenzie

1. Violin Concerto in C sharp minor, Op. 32: 1. Allergo non troppo
2. Violin Concerto in C sharp minor, Op. 32: 2. Largo
3. Violin Concerto in C sharp minor, Op. 32: 3. Finale: Vivace Allergo
4. Pibroch Suite, for violin & orchestra, Op. 42: 1. Rhapsody: Slow
5. Pibroch Suite, for violin & orchestra, Op. 42: 2. Caprice. Theme: Allegretto - Variations I-IX - Coda
6. Pibroch Suite, for violin & orchestra, Op 42: 3. Dance. Allergo vivace - Lento - Presto

Malcolm Stewart, violin
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Vernon Handley, conductor (1-3)
David Davies, conductor (4-6)

Date: 1997
Label: Hyperion
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDH55343

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Review

Edinburgh-born Alexander Mackenzie (1874-1935) His Violin Concerto Composed following a commission by the 1885 Birmingham Festival. Rejected by one great virtuoso of the day, Joseph Joachim, it was premiered by Eventually (and dedicated to) another legendary performer, Pablo de Sarasate, under Mackenzie's own direction. Mightily impressed That August evening was a 28-year-old musician by the name of Edward Elgar; indeed, many years later in 1932, Elgar was the driving force behind a revival of the Work With Boult and the BBC SO. It is an amiable, beautifully crafted and generously lyrical outpouring, Comprising an impressive opening Allegro non troppo (Whose development Mackenzie launches unexpectedly with a cadenza), Which leads without a break into the central Largo (a tender essay in ternary form) and Concludes With an infectious Allegro vivace finale Employing the Polish dance-form Known as the krakowiak. Lasting around 31 minutes, the concerto never ITS Threatens to outstay welcome and anyone with a love for the violin concertante works of, say, Bruch or Saint-Saens will devour it. Malcolm Stewart, long-time leader of the RLPO and a gifted soloist in His own right, Responds With full sympathy to Mackenzie's idiomatic writing (in His Youth, the composer was, Like His father, a formidably Accomplished fiddler). , Moreover, Vernon Handley and the RSNO are characteristically watchful allies.

Pibroch for violin and orchestra was written at Sarasate's behest for a concert at the Leeds Festival of 1889. Deriving ITS title from the Scottish Gaelic word piobaireachd (meaning "pipe music"), Mackenzie's three-movement suite yields much Engaging invention, not least in the center "Caprice" - a set of nine variations and a coda on the Scottish tune, Three Guid Fellows. The perky concluding "Dance", too, Utilizes a home-grown melody, a seventeenth-century tune by the name of Leslies Lilt. With Those Who Mackenzie's family are stirring Burns Rhapsody from 1880 (also on Hyperion, 5/95) will find a kindred in Pibroch native flavor. We Know That Sarasate (For Whom HAD Previously written His Bruch Scottish Fantasia) Both rated Pibroch and the Violin Concerto very highly, programming them Often During His concert tours. Once again, Stewart Contributes nimbly and the RSNO turn in some lively playing for David Davies (who, ACCORDING to a refreshingly candid statement in the admirable Hyperion booklet, stood in for a Suddenly indisposed Handley at literally one hour's notice before the sessions Were due to begin). The recording is undistractingly clean and true. An enjoyable pairing.

--  Andrew Achenbach , Gramophone

More reviews:
BBC Music Magazine  PERFORMANCE: ***** / SOUND: ****
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2000/feb00/pibroch.htm
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/Oct09/Mackenzie_violin_cdh55343.htm
http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/alexander-campbell-mackenzie-violin-concerto-pibroch-suite-mr0002120499

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Alexander Mackenzie (22 August 1847 – 28 April 1935) was a Scottish composer, conductor and teacher best known for his oratorios, violin and piano pieces, Scottish folk music and works for the stage. He had many successes as a composer, producing over 90 compositions, but from 1888 to 1924, he devoted a great part of his energies to running the Royal Academy of Music. Together with Hubert Parry and Charles Villiers Stanford, he was regarded as one of the fathers of the Britishmusical renaissance in the late nineteenth century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Mackenzie_(composer)

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Malcolm Stewart is Premier violon solo de l`Orchestra National du Capitol de Toulouse,France. He was born in the UK of Scottish ancestry, studied in London, Europe and the USA. After his studies, he joined the London Symphony Orchestra leaving soon after to join the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestra as concertmaster. He stayed for 25 years and became leader Laureate upon his departure in 2003. Malcolm has appeared as guest concertmaster with more than 20 different orchestras throughout Europe, Australia, Japan and the USA. He has combined a solo and chamber music career, recording for Hyperion, Virgin and Classico records.

http://www.nhmfmusicians.org/index.php/archives/41-about-us/musician-bios/violins/193-malcolm-stewart-violin

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