Williams: Violin Concerto No. 2 & Selected Film Themes cover

Williams: Violin Concerto No. 2 & Selected Film Themes

Composer
Released

This premiere recording of Williams’ 2nd Violin Concerto is a welcome change of pace from the static, ambient affects that often characterize contemporary classical music. Like many of his film-composer descendants, Williams is an expert neo-Romantic, which means that this score is full of spiky chords, big feelings, and cinematic evocations. Williams has said that the piece was written for soloist Anne-Sophie Mütter’s skill set, and the piece is indeed an effective spotlight for her big, muscular sound. The stabbing opening gestures and beautiful lines in the first movement are the highlight.

Sean Wood

Recommended by

Suggestions
Vincent D’Indy: Orchestral Works, Vol. 5 cover

Vincent D’Indy: Orchestral Works, Vol. 5

Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Rumon Gamba
Haydn: Piano Concertos cover

Haydn: Piano Concertos

Gabor Takács-Nagy, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet
Paris cover

Paris

Hilary Hahn, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Mikko Franck
Belle Époque cover

Belle Époque

Daniel Hope
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fair Child of Beauty cover

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fair Child of Beauty

Britten Sinfonia, John Hopkins, Alan Tongue, Joyful Company of Singers, Philip Smith
Grace Williams: Chamber Music cover

Grace Williams: Chamber Music

Madeleine Mitchell, London Chamber Ensemble
Gounod: The Complete Works for Pedal Piano & Orchestra cover

Gounod: The Complete Works for Pedal Piano & Orchestra

Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Roberto Prosseda, Howard Shelley
Henryk Górecki: Symphony No. 4 (Tansman Episodes) cover

Henryk Górecki: Symphony No. 4 (Tansman Episodes)

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrey Boreyko
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 9 & 24 cover

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 9 & 24

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Orchestre de chambre de Paris, Lars Vogt