Leonidas Kavakos - Mendelssohn Bartholdy - Violin Concerto & Piano Trios (2009)

Leonidas Kavakos - Mendelssohn Bartholdy - Violin Concerto in E minor & Piano Trios Nos. 1 & 2

2CD - DDD - 28'06, 55'43

Sony 2009

Disc1:
1. Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64: 1. Allegro molto appassionato
2. Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64: 2. Andante
3. Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64: 3. Allegro molto vivace

Disc2:
1. Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49: 1. Molto Allegro agitato
2. Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49: 2. Andante con moto tranquillo
3. Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49: 3. Scherzo. Leggiero e vivace
4. Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49: 4. Finale. Allegro assai appassionato
5. Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66: 1. Allegro energico con fuoco
6. Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66: 2. Andante espressivo
7. Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66: 3. Scherzo. Molto allegro quasi presto
8. Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66: 4. Finale. Allegro appassionato

For this 2009 release, internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor Leonidas Kavakos celebrates the 200th birthday of Felix Mendelssohn, whose brief meteoric career helped shape Romantic music. Engaging the listener immediately, the album opens with a rousing performance of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Minor, Op. 64. which is both conducted and performed by Kavakos. Kavakos then joins forces with pianist Enrico Pace and cellist Patrick Demenga in the composer's Piano Trios No. 1 in D Minor, Op.49 and No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 66. From the first note to the very last Kavakos' artistic genius abounds and his depth of understanding of the material is apparent.

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