Sir Andrew Davis, conductor

Philharmonia Orchestra

James Ehnes, violin

 

Elgar: Violin Concerto

Elgar: Serenade for Strings

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Sure to be one of the great recordings for Elgar anniversary year, this outstanding Violin Concerto was recorded live in May at two performances given during the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Elgar series under the direction of seasoned Elgarian Sir Andrew Davis.

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Davis has performed the Violin Concerto with many players over the years (though this is his first recording of it) and maintains that Ehnes’ is the finest of them – ‘he actually plays what Elgar wrote – and so musically!‘

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Classical Source wrote: ‘inspired a newly refreshed love for a familiar work. His intonation was impeccable, his control of the differing emotional elements was impressive and the end was truly magnificent, a fitting climax to a memorable interpretation.’ (17 May 2007)

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Ehnes gets better and better. Still only 30 this young Canadian is increasingly being recognized as one of the 4 or 5 most complete violinists on the planet. His previous ONYX release of Barber, Korngold and Walton Violin Concertos (ONYX4016) was universally praised, including Record of the Week in the Daily Telegraph and ‘an outstanding release in every way’ from Edward Greenfield in Gramophone.