THE ROMANTIC VIOLIN CONCERTO - 20

ZYGMUNT STOJOWSKI (1869-1946): Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 22, Romanze in E Flat, Op. 20, HENRYK WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880): Fantaisie brillante sur des motifs de l’opéra Faust de Gounod. Op. 20.

Description: If you think this music looks familiar it’s because we offered both Stojowski works on the Polish Acte Préalable label, with a young violinist and a youth orchestra seven years ago (08L001). Here’s the fully professional option. Premiered in 1900, the concerto is a full-fledged member of the 19th century Romantic genus with an emotional range from inward lyricism to volcanic outbursts of passion. The solo part requires all the virtuosity audiences expect in this genre while the orchestra has a lot more to do than merely accompany. After a half-hour of drama, the six-minute Romance of 1901 offers a cantilena which builds to a brief passionate climax. The 18-minute Wieniawski Fantaisie comes from 1865 and delivers the splashy thrills you’d expect. Bartłomiej Nizioł (violin), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; Łukasz Borowicz.