Stravinsky: Violin Concerto in D

Arthur Grumiaux was a prince among violinists and recorded extensively for Philips/Decca. Many of his recordings – some of them released internationally for the first time on CD – have appeared on an extensive series on the Eloquence label. Here is another – a rare 1956 performance of the Tchaikovsky concerto coupled with his highly-praised traversals of the Stravinsky and Berg concertos.

[Berg/Stravinsky]: "Grumiaux's pure style brings rare magic to both these works. To the Berg he brings above all tenderness and sweetness; to the Stravinsky he brings above all strength and dynamism. The one virtuoso, remaining his individual self all the time, effortlessly encompasses the utterly different demands of each work." Gramophone

Thomas Zehetmair, Music Director of Northern Sinfonia returns as both soloist and conductor with a new recording of Symphonies 3 & 6 by Jean Sibelius and Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto. All three works were recorded at the home of Northern Sinfonia, The Sage Gateshead and follow critically acclaimed Mozart recordings with Imogen Cooper and a Brahms/Schumann CD which was CD of the month in BBC Music Magazine (July 2007).

Sibelius’ Symphony No. 3 in C major was premiered in 1907 and many argue that it is here that Sibelius’ powers first display themselves in full regalia while Symphony No. 6 (1923) is the purest, most inward, almost hypnotic of his works and in many ways the most fascinating of his symphonies. The Violin Concerto in D, very representative of Stravinsky’s neo-Classical period, received its first performance in Berlin in October 1931 with the composer himself conducting the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Northern Sinfonia with its Music Director Thomas Zehetmair command a unique position in Europe, with repertoire spanning three centuries and regularly commissioned new works. Autumn 2008 marked the start of the Orchestra’s 50th Anniversary Season and its fourth year in its own spectacular Norman Foster designed home for music, The Sage Gateshead, wthere it is central to the extensive classical programme.

"With its breathtaking Foster architecture, revolutionary intermingling of educational, community and professional music-making, and passionate support from Gateshead Council, The Sage Gateshead has quickly become the most exciting music venue in Britain — and Northern Sinfonia has raised its game to match its new home." The Times