Mieczysław Karłowicz; Moritz Moszkowski - Violin Concertos (Tasmin Little)

Information

Composer: Mieczysław Karłowicz; Moritz Moszkowski

• (01) Karłowicz - Violin Concerto in A major, Op. 8
• (04) Moszkowski - Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 16
• (05) Moszkowski - Violin Concerto in C major, Op. 30

Tasmin Little, violin
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins, conductor

Date: 2004
Label: Hyperion
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67389

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9

Anyone familiar with Moszkowski’s marginally familiar piano concerto knows to expect finely crafted, tuneful, and really attractive music, and that’s just what we get here. His command of form also is unusually supple, never sounding stiff or contrived, while the writing for the soloist has just as much virtuoso dash as does his writing for piano. Tasmin Little deserves credit for delivering such a classy account of this neglected gem. Her performance is particularly noteworthy for its full-throated lyricism in the lovely central slow movement, and she carries off the less-interesting Ballade in G minor with equal aplomb.

Tchaikovsky is the clear model for Karlowicz’s sunny concerto (the excellent notes point out that the work begins just like the First Piano Concerto played upside down), also expertly written and very skillfully scored. Once again Little offers playing of real enthusiasm in the outer movements, full of passion at the beginning of the first-movement development and exhibiting a sweet timbre that never turns shrill in the instrument’s upper registers. Martyn Brabbins and the BBC Scottish Symphony deliver their usual thoroughly professional, musicianly accompaniments and more–they sound both involved and enthusiastic about this project, as well they should. Hyperion’s sonics, excellently balanced, uphold the high standards of the house. Very warmly recommended, as are all of the releases so far in the label’s fine Romantic Violin Concerto series (of which this is Volume 4).

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/Apr04/KarlowiczVC.htm
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/May04/Karlowicz_Violinconc.htm
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/h/hyp67389a.php
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/apr/09/classicalmusicandopera.shopping
http://www.allmusic.com/album/moszkowski-violin-concerto-in-c-op-30-ballade-in-g-minor-op-16-no-1-karlowicz-violin-concerto-in-a-op-8-mw0001386729
http://www.amazon.com/The-Romantic-Violin-Concerto-Vol/dp/B0000ARNEY

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Mieczysław Karłowicz (11 December 1876 – 8 February 1909) was a Polish composer and conductor. Karłowicz studied in Warsaw and Berlin, and studied conducting with Arthur Nikisch. Karłowicz's music is of a late Romantic character with influences of Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Richard Wagner. His music inhabits a primary place in the history of Polish music between Frédéric Chopin and Karol Szymanowski. Among his works are a Symphony in E minor (Rebirth, Op. 7), a Violin Concerto in A major (Op. 8), several tone poems, and a number of songs for voice and piano. Karłowicz died at the age of 32 in an avalanche while skiing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mieczys%C5%82aw_Kar%C5%82owicz

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Moritz Moszkowski (23 August 1854 – 4 March 1925) was a German-Jewish composer, pianist, and teacher of Polish descent on his paternal side. Although less known today, Moszkowski was well respected and popular during the late nineteenth century. Among his teachers are Eduard Franck, Friedrich Kiel, and Theodor Kullak. Moszkowski was quite prolific, composing over two hundred small-scale piano pieces, which brought him much popularity. He also wrote larger scale works including two Piano Concertos, a Violin Concerto, three orchestral suites, and a symphonic poem.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moritz_Moszkowski

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Tasmin Little (born 13 May 1965 in London) is an English classical violinist. She is best known and widely acclaimed as a concerto soloist, and also performs as a recitalist and chamber musician. Her first professional performance as a soloist was in 1988 with The Hallé. She made her first appearance at the BBC Proms in 1990, and has appeared regularly since. Little has been an exponent of the works of composer Frederick Delius throughout her career. She has released multiple albums, winning the Critics Award at the Classic Brit Awards in 2011 for her recording of Elgar's Violin Concerto.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmin_Little

http://www.tasminlittle.org.uk/

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