William Schuman: Violin Concerto

2010

“The rediscovery here is the William Schuman Violin Concerto. The work is in two substantial movements both showing Schuman's own kind of exuberant energy with brass and percussion as well as a special mystical stillness in soft music.
The soloist plunges in right at the start of the first movement; there's an oasis of calm at and then a sprawling cadenza of nearly three minutes.
The second movement has an aggressive start which clears the way for the delayed entry of the soloist. Again there's lyrical rapture as well as fireworks and – another Schuman fingerprint – a fugato. Philip Quint, the Russian-born American violinist, make his recorded début here. It's a very capable performance in every way – look out for him again.
Schuman's New England Triptych, based on three hymns by the first prominent American pioneer-composer, William Billings, is one of his most familiar pieces, well represented on CD. The Variations on 'America' – sending up the USA, royalty or both – ensures that this useful Schuman package ends with a good laugh.”

2011 edition

“[The Violin Concerto] is altogether a splendidly rewarding work, given a first-rate performance here by Philip Quint and the strongly involved Bournemouth players under Serebrier. They are no less persuasive in the New England Triptych, a folksy, immediately communicative work. First-class recording in an attractively spacious acoustic.”