Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K218

“In Carmignola, [Abbado] has an ideal soloist, prepared to rethink these delightful works, as well as the great Sinfonia Concertante, with violin and viola solos in the light of scholarly research and reappraisal. The results are little short of revelatory, especially in the concertos’ and Sinfonia’s fast outer movements. They scamper along at Carmignola’s vivacious tempi and provoke dazzling feats of virtuosity from the orchestral accompaniments, which sometimes sound polite. The soloist’s tone is bright and sweet (but never saccharine), and Abbado’s Bolognese band is already clearly a crack ensemble — the principal viola, Danusha Waskiewicz, brings lustrous tone and bravura to the Sinfonia’s second solo part, and it is a long time since I have heard such exhilarating, devil-may-care playing in the famous “Turkish” Rondo of the A major concerto. A marvellous set.” Sunday Times, 20th July 2008 ****

“Carmignola, renowned for his Baroque, is a clean interpreter of Mozart's violin concertos, his sweet-sounding strings flitting in well-matched dialogue with the attentive period detailing of Abbado's young ensemble.” The Times, 19th July 2008 ****

“[The conducting is] almost miraculous, with its exuberant, lively tempi, perfectly balanced lighter-than-air textures, and exquisite attention to the smallest details of phrasing and articulation. The sense of the players listening as intently to each other as they do to following Abbado's directions is obvious in every bar... There are a few moments in the violin concertos, and especially in the Sinfonia Concertante, when the music could benefit from a little more room to breathe, though Abbado and his soloists do show that the slow movement of the Sinfonia doesn't need to be taken as an indulgent adagio to weave its magical spell.” The Guardian, 18th July 2008 ****

“Complete technical fluidity, at the service of a lively musical imagination, backed up by some superbly shaped orchestral playing under Abbado.” BBC Music Magazine, Proms 2008 *****

“Mozart-conducting and interpretation are in the realms of greatness.” Gramophone Magazine, September 2008

“There is plenty to enjoy... in Kennedy's inventive performance of Mozart's Fourth Concerto, provided you can take his cadenzas, where he switches to electronic violin and treats Mozartian fragments to jazz riffs with bass player Michal Baranski - a culture shock that may come to seem a tired gimmick on repeated hearings.” The Telegraph, 12th April 2008

“That hallmark attention to detail and line is still there, but it's now coupled with an energy and vitality that springs from his growing interest in jazz. His radical electric violin cadenzas breathe new life into the Mozart concerto in D K218, but purists will hate them.” The Observer, 13th April 2008

“Too wilful to warrant anything like a general recommendation, except to Kennedy fans and the curious.” Gramophone Magazine, July 2008

All three works showcase what Gramophone describe as Oistrakh’s distinctive “composure, interpretative finesse, velvety tone and highly sophisticated musicianship.”

“Andrew Manze has never played better than in this gorgeous recording.” The Independent on Sunday

“Julia Fischer shows real poise and elegance in Mozart violin concertos” BBC Music Magazine, 1st November 2005

“I'd say that anyone on the look-out for a digitally recorded CD of Mozart violin concertos could hardly do better” Robert Cowan, The Independent