On the heels of his successful recording of the five
Mozart violin concertos, violinist and conductor
Leonidas Kavakos returns with the works of a composer with whom
Mozart shared many life circumstances:
Felix Mendelssohn. While
Mendelssohn's contributions to the violin repertoire were far fewer in number, the influence of the E minor Concerto in particular cannot be understated. Emerging as one of the most important concertos of the Romantic era, the E minor Concerto is a part of nearly every violinist's repertoire.
Kavakos, who also directs the Camerata Salzburg, does everything he can to leave his own print on the piece without resorting to absurd tactics. The outer movements are played with extreme fire and vehemence while remaining under precise technical control;
Kavakos also likes to add unexpected pauses and delays in resolution both in his own part to spice things up a bit. Apart from this, however, nothing truly new is being said here. It is a well-executed, enjoyable performance that is absolutely appropriate for listeners who lack a recording in their libraries. It should be noted that the first disc in this set is a mere 28 minutes in length, not even half of the disc's capacity. Perhaps
Kavakos could have included the lesser known but equally enjoyable D minor concerto.
Disc 2 branches outside of the literature for solo violin and delves into chamber music; specifically, the two piano trios.
Kavakos is joined by cellist
Patrick Demenga and pianist
Enrico Pace. Sound quality here is less clear and precise as it was in the concerto. This muddied quality makes it difficult to hear all of the intricate filigree taking place in the piano.
Kavakos also seems to dominate his own part over his companions when all three play together.