Steinbacher’s Prokofiev

Prokofiev:

  • The 2 Violin Concertos

Arabella Steinbacher, a former student of Anne-Sophie Mutter’s, has established a high-profile musical career. An additional strong attraction for me on this CD is Vasily Petrenko, the excellent Russian conductor who has achieved strong success ever since his appointment with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in 2007. Petrenko has focused his CD career on Rachmaninov and Shostakovich; I was fascinated to see what he would do with Prokofiev’s violin music.

On this recording we hear the following:

Prokofiev:

  • Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19

Russian National Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko

  • Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63

Russian National Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko

  • Sonata in D major for solo violin, Op. 115

The soloist is Arabella Steinbacher (violin)

The first movement of concerto #1 is taken quite slowly, and Petrenko shows us the great detail in Prokofiev’s orchestration. Steinbacher’s interpretation is detailed and musical, which
allows us to hear the beauty of this piece.

In the concerto #2, Petrenko creates a mysterious first movement. The second movement is also delicate music for the orchestra as the soloist sings by herself, and one marvels at how beautifully balanced it is in Petrenko’s hands. The double stops that open the finale can be real challenge, but Steinbacher plays them flawlessly.

Here is Arabella Steinbacher – Beethoven Violin Concerto

 

http://youtu.be/uUZF8NcLLEg

 

And now, here is S.Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto № 1, in D – Major, op. 19, with Arabella Steinbacher, violin soloist

 

 

Finally, here’s Arabella Steibacher at the Musikverein Vienna, playing the Tchaikovsky violin concerto

 

Tags: Arabella Steibacher, Prokofiev, Concerto, Sonata for solo violin

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