Jenő Hubay - Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Suite for violin and orchestra (Hagai Shaham)

Information

Composer: Jenő Hubay

• (01-03) Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor "Concerto dramatique", Op. 21
• (04-07) Suite for violin & orchestra, Op. 5
• (08-10) Violin Concerto No. 2 in E major, Op. 90

Hagai Shaham, violin
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins, conductor

Date: 2006
Label: Hyperion
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67498

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

Brilliance and imagination distinguish the latest instalment in the series

This excellent disc follows up the earlier Hyperion issue from these same performers of Jeno Hubay’s other two violin concertos, Nos 3 and 4. Once again the composer demonstrates what an outstanding lyricist he was, particularly in the first of the concertos, the Concerto dramatique, in which one good tune follows another, each of them a candidate for the sort of virtuoso figuration designed to show off the brilliance of the soloist. Hubay himself was a formidable violinist who, to celebrate his 50th birthday in 1908, played this concerto in a concert when his other three violin concertos were played by his pupils Josef Szigeti, Franz von Vecsey and Stefi Geyer, dedicatee of Bartók’s early Violin Concerto No 1.

Hubay composed that first concerto in 1884-85 for his former teacher, Joseph Joachim, and much of the writing tends to bring to mind Bruch’s concertos, which is no disadvantage. No 2 dates from around 1900 and though the first movement is less distinguished, with a rather rigid main theme like a patriotic song, it too is a tuneful piece. The second and third movements are even more attractive, a charming interlude leading to a sparkling Hungarian dance finale.

The Suite, Op 5 (1877-88), another concertante work for violin, starts rather unpromisingly with a gavotte which, with its square main theme and hammered double-stopping, sounds more like a march. The other three movements are freer-running in their lyricism: genre pieces, an ‘Idylle’ marked Andantino, an Intermezzo and a dazzling finale full of virtuoso writing, which misleadingly opens with a brief reminiscence of the opening movement.

As in the earlier disc, Hagai Shaham plays not just with brilliance but with great imagination, avoiding any idea that this is just superficial display music. As in so many of Hyperion’s concerto recordings, Martyn Brabbins and the BBC Scottish SO demonstrate what sympathetic accompanists they are, consistently giving an impression of live music-making. The full and vivid recording made in Caird Hall, Dundee, equally lives up to the high standard expected in Hyperion’s enterprising concerto series.

-- Edward Greenfield, Gramophone

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/may06/Hubay_CDA67498.htm
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/feb/17/classicalmusicandopera.shopping1
http://www.amazon.com/Romantic-Violin-Concerto-Vol-Hubay/dp/B000E1XOUI

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jenő Hubay (15 September 1858 – 12 March 1937) was a Hungarian violinist, composer and music teacher. Hubay was trained in violin and music by his father, Karl, and received instruction from Joseph Joachim in Berlin. As a soloist, he gained the praise of Vieuxtemps, Johannes Brahms and many others. He formed two string quartets, one of them was the Budapest Quartet. Hubay composed four violin concertos, a very large number of encore pieces, and also several operas. His pupils included Joseph Szigeti, André Gertler, Eugene Ormandy, Eugene Lehner and many more.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jen%C5%91_Hubay

***

Hagai Shaham (born July 8, 1966) is an Israeli violin virtuoso. He began studying the violin at the age of six and was the last student of the late Professor Ilona Feher. As a soloist he has performed with many of the world's major orchestras. He also performs as a recitalist and appears in chamber music performances. Shaham has recorded music of Achron, Bloch, Brahms, Hubay, Grieg, Mozart, and more for labels such as Biddulph, Hyperion, Avie, Naxos, Talent. He is also a violin teacher, and a professor at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagai_Shaham

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!