19th Century Violinist Composers series

While Ysaÿe’s Six Solo Violin Sonatas (Naxos 8555996) remain his best known works, the Belgian virtuoso also composed other pieces which translate his thorough knowledge of the violin’s capabilities into thrilling music.

The performance here of his Sonata for Two Violins is based on the composer’s autograph and that of the String Trio draws on the original hand-written parts. For the recording of the Cello Sonata the artist referred to Ysaÿe’s own fingering and bowing instructions.

All three works display the composer’s dazzling mastery of technique and instrumental colour.

Lauded as “the most charismatic violinist the UK has produced in recent years”, Chloë Hanslip has delighted music lovers with her Naxos recordings of virtuosic 19th century music by Bazzini and Godard.

Hubay’s first two Violin Concertos not only make full use of the violin’s singing qualities, especially in the gorgeous slow movements, but require considerable virtuosity in performance.

With their Hungarian folk-dance elements the Scènes de la Csárda are among Hubay’s most famous works.

Inspired by Paganini to perfect his skills as a violinist, Léon de Saint-Lubin enjoyed a highly successful career in Vienna, where Beethoven wrote a cadenza especially for him, and in Berlin, where he presented luminaries such as Liszt, Mendelssohn and Spohr in concert.

Several of Saint-Lubin’s spectacular violin works are here revived by the talented young American-based Anastasia Khitruk, whose other Naxos recordings have been acclaimed.

Complementing the release of Bériot’s Violin Concertos Nos. 1, 8 & 9 (8555104) and Nos. 2, 3 & 5 (8570360), this disc presents his equally virtuosic Duos concertants for two violins whose disarming lyricism, cheerful vivacity and Classical three-movement structure mask many formidable technical challenges.

Based on themes from Prince Yusupov’s once popular Ballet Espagnol, Bériot’s Six Characteristic Duos add a dash of Iberian sunshine, the two violins imitating guitars, romancing each other, marching together and even dancing a fandango and bolero.

A student of Viotti, Pierre Rode was an eminent violinist active in early 19th century Paris who helped found the influential French violin school.

Respected by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Spohr, among others, Rode is mostly known for his 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, yet his 13 Violin Concertos are rarely if ever played.

Friedemann Eichhorn, the soloist on this world première recording, has commented: “Working with these scores was a wonderful adventure... Rode uses sophisticated and often rich orchestration... As a counterpoint to effective virtuoso violin writing, Rode emphasizes the singing quality of his instrument”.

The Violin Concerto No. 7, the best known of the Concertos, was a favourite of Wieniawski, and one of the very few works (besides his own) that Paganini consented to play.