Barber and Sibelius:
- Violin Concertos.
Samuel Barber was born in 1910, and Jean Sibelius in 1865. While a period of 45 years separates these two composers, I find the pairing of these two works to be interesting and quite suitable. We hear the following: Barber, S: Violin Concerto, Op. 14, performed by Joshua Bell (violin), with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, David Zinman conducting. Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, performed by Boris Belkin (violin), with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting. Serenade, performed by Boris Belkin (violin), with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting. Gramophone Magazine made the following comments: “Bell gives us an impressively ardent reading… in the central slow movement the long, opening oboe solo leads to a magically hushed first entry for the violin, rapt and intense… [In the Barber] Boris Belkin is a powerful and sensitive artist… I admire the breadth of the first movement, the boldness of his attack, and the marvelously gentle lyricism that pervades the slow movement” Here is the Barber: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra, Op.14, as performed by Joshua Bell: https://youtu.be/8sWuCDDEY0E And next, here is the Sibelius Violin Concerto, as played by Boris Belkin: https://youtu.be/g99YP9rKxGQ Tags: Sibelius, Samuel Barber, Joshua Bell, Boris Belkin, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, David Zinman