Violin Concertos by Linus Roth / Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / Mihkel Kütson

Benjamin Britten, Mieczysław Weinberg

Linus Roth / Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / Mihkel Kütson

Violin Concertos

Price: € 12.95
Format: SACD
Label: Challenge Classics
UPC: 0608917262728
Catnr: CC 72627
Release date: 14 February 2014
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Label
Challenge Classics

UPC
0608917262728

Catalogue number
CC 72627

Release date
14 February 2014

"01/12/2016 - Péché de Classique"

Péché de Classique, 01-12-2016

Album

Artist(s)

Composer(s)

Press

About the album

Click here for the promo video of this album!

Benjamin Britten is best known for his operas and vocal music. But amid his output are also eight concertos, only one of them famous. In 1938 he wrote his Piano Concerto. The concerto was his last major work before shipping himself and his partner Peter Pears to
America where his first composition upon arrival was the Violin Concerto op.15. He finished it in September 1939. Of all his attempts at the concerto form, only the Violin Concerto has attained international fame and repertoire-status. Joan Chissell has called the Violin Concerto a work of “searching idiom, solid substance, and serious intent…” although “two of the three movements are completely dispassionate and extrovert in kind” without any “heart-felt appeal to the listener’s emotions [until the final passacaglia].” Britten took a good deal of the inspiration, if not outright quotes or technical means, for his concerto from Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto that Britten had heard in Barcelona in 1936.

Weinberg’s relationship with Shostakovich developed to a point where the closeness might even hurt his reputation when Weinberg is merely seen as a lesser Shostakovich, a darker, grim copy of the famous original. But Weinberg is neither lesser nor did he, though younger, copy Shostakovich any more than Shostakovich allowed himself to be influenced by Weinberg. The more one gets to
know the ‘junior partner’ of this twosome, the richer a picture emerges. Talking about this 1959 concerto, written for and dedicated to Leonid Kogan, Shostakovich remarked that he was “very impressed with [this] magnificent work. And I choose my words advisedly”. As the work will hopefully, surely gain in popularity, posterity will at last be able to confirm that Shostakovich was not exaggerating. Weinberg composed a masterpiece anything—famous or not—the century has to offer in the genre. With its affirmative power and irresistible drive from the first percussion crack of the Allegro molto to the last diminishing violin chord (ushered out by the horns in triple-pianissimo), it has a real chance of breaking into the phalanx of repertoire pieces, while the non-stop virtuosity
demanded of the soloist ought to delight and challenge any curious violinist.

Weinig gespeeld, maar uitermate bekoorlijk, deze combinatie van vioolconcerten
Deze opname van violist Linus Roth met het Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin van de vioolconcerten van Mieczysław Weinberg en Benjamin Britten, houdt de toehoorder in zijn ban. De jonge violist bespeelt het publiek met zijn gevoeligheid, emotie en waanzinnige techniek. Wat ook gevraagd wordt, want het vioolconcert van Weinberg vereist virtuositeit en een briljante, onweerstaanbare kracht. De virtuositeit van Weinberg gekoppeld aan de expressie van Britten: déze concerten zijn een lust voor het oor! "De interpertatie van de beide concerten door Linus Roth is zonder meer subliem, net als het orkest aandeel." Luister juni, 2014.

Weinberg's Vioolconcert (1959) werd opgedragen aan de violist Leonid Kogan en maakte veel indruk op Dmitri Sjostakovitsj, die erg onder de indruk was van dit magnifieke werk. Leonid Kogan (1924-1982) was een van de grootste Russische violisten en behoorde met zijn virtuoze speeltechniek tot de besten ter wereld. Zijn moderne speelstijl was niet soepel, maar wel vol kracht en passie.

De Duitse violist Linus Roth heeft een passie voor kamermuziek. In 2006 won hij een belangrijke prijs in de wereld van de klassieke muziek: de Echo Klassik. In één klap was hij bekend en maakte hij furore als een van de interessantste violisten van zijn generatie. "De door god gezonden Linus Roth, betovert zijn publiek met zijn meer dan 300 jaar oude Stradivarius, zijn soms zijdezachte toon, zijn ritmische precisie en zijn voelspriet voor muzikaal voorwaardelijke klankschakeringen en kleurnuances." Die Welt.
Roth treedt niet alleen op met standaardrepertoire, maar zet zich ook in voor nagenoeg vergeten werken en componisten. Dat bracht hem op het pad van Mieczyslaw Weinberg. Roth is oprichter van The International Mieczyslaw Weinberg Society en een van de belangrijkste uitvoerders van Weinbergs muziek. Dat leverde hem al veel erkenning op, van zowel publiek als critici. Met dit album toont Roth zijn enorme toewijding aan Weinberg, die zo steeds meer bekendheid krijgt en wiens prachtige muziek op deze manier herontdekt wordt.

De Engelsman Edward Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) componist, pianist en dirigent, had een leidende rol in de Britse klassieke muziek. Hij is vooral bekend vanwege zijn opera's en vocale muziek. Hij studeerde aan het Royal College of Music in Londen. In 1938 schreef Britten zijn Piano Concerto, waarna hij naar Amerika vertrok. Daar voltooide hij in 1939 zijn Violin Concerto, geïnspireerd op het indrukwekkende concert van Alban Berg. Alleen dit concert van Britten kreeg internationale bekendheid. Het wordt nog steeds niet vaak gespeeld, maar komt wel meer onder de aandacht, getuige dit album.

Het vioolconcert van Wijnberg is welhaast nog onbekender dan dat van Britten. Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-1996) werd in Warschau, Polen geboren. Daar studeerde hij piano aan de Frédéric Chopin muziekacademie. Al snel werd hij geprezen om zijn muzikale talent. In 1939 vluchtte Weinberg naar Rusland, zijn ouders en zus bleven helaas in Polen, waar ze vermoord werden in de oorlog. In Minsk studeerde Weinberg bij een voormalig student van Rimski-Korsakov. De ochtend na Weinbergs diploma-uitreiking vielen de Duitsers Rusland binnen. Opnieuw moest Weinberg vluchten. Dit keer naar Tasjkent. Daar werkte hij bij de opera en ontmoette hij andere evacués. Onder hen was ook de beroemde directeur van Het Joods Theater in Moskou, wiens dochter hij trouwde.
Na de Tweede Wereldoorlog laaide het antisemitisme in Rusland hevig op. Joden met een culturele achtergrond werden gearresteerd en later gedood. Weinbergs schoonvader werd vermoord door de geheime politie. Weinberg had, evenals Sjostakovitsj, een koffertje klaarstaan om bij een arrestatie nog iets te kunnen meenemen. In eerste instantie werd Weinberg gespaard voor dat lot. In 1953 werd hij toch gearresteerd, na de première van zijn rapsodie op Moldavische thema's, voor viool en orkest. Net als Sjostakovitsj nam Weinberg namelijk een loopje met de muziekkennis van de autoriteiten. De rapsodie wemelde van de Joodse associaties. Sjostakovitsj nam het voor hem op, maar waarschijnlijk kwam het niet verder dan een arrestatie, omdat Stalin dat jaar overleed. De autoriteiten hadden geen tijd meer om zich in Weinbergs zaak te verdiepen. Het is verbazend zo creatief als de componist was, gezien de tragiek in zijn veelbewogen leven. Hij schreef 26 symfonieën en 17 strijkkwartetten en vele andere werken, die voor het merendeel in Rusland werden uitgevoerd, door de beroemdste musici en orkesten.

Preisträger Linus Roth mit zwei bestechenden Violinkonzerten.

Seit seiner Auszeichnung mit dem Echo-Klassik 2006 errang der Geiger Linus Roth immer mehr Reputation. Seine Einspielung sämtlicher Werke für Violine und Klavier von Mieczysław Weinberg brachte ihm sowohl vom Publikum als auch von Kritikerseite große Anerkennung ein. Linus Roth macht sich auch weiterhin für die Kompositionen des Polen stark und hat jetzt dessen Violinkonzert aufgenommen. Es entstand 1959 für den Geiger Leonid Kogan und beeindruckte Dmitri Schostakowitsch, der das Konzert sehr lobte. Mit bestechender Kraft und unwiderstehlichem Antrieb zieht Weinbergs Violinkonzert den Zuhörer in seinen Bann. Auch die Virtuosität, die dem Musiker abverlangt wird, begeistert.

Linus Roth kombiniert dieses Werk mit dem Violinkonzert von Benjamin Britten, das 1939 fertig wurde und auch von Alban Bergs beeindruckendem Konzert inspiriert ist.

Artist(s)

Linus Roth

Linus Roth, who received the ECHO KLASSIK Award as 'Best Newcomer' 2006 for his début CD on the label EMI, was awarded his second ECHO award in 2017 for his recording of the violin concertos by Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky with the London Symphony Orchestra under Thomas Sanderling.
Linus Roth has made a name for himself internationally, not just with his acclaimed work in core repertoire, but also with his discovery / rediscovery of works that have undeservedly fallen into oblivion. He has devoted special attention to the works of Mieczysław Weinberg, both on the concert platform and the recording studio. Roth's recording of the complete works for violin and piano by Mieczysław Weinberg, released in 2013 by Challenge Classics to wide public and critical acclaim was followed up by recordings of Weinberg’s Violin Concerto with the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester and his Concertino with the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn. Both CDs were selected as 'Editor’s Choice' by Gramophone magazine. Making Mieczysław Weinberg’s oeuvre known to a wider audience is also the aim of the International Weinberg Society, which Linus Roth founded in 2015. This association organises and sponsors concerts, readings, exhibitions, interdisciplinary events and publications on the work and life of the Polish-Jewish composer. For the 100th anniversary of Weinberg’s birth in 2019, Linus Roth will curate two days of events dedicated to the composer in the form of six concerts at Wigmore Hall in London. In addition to chamber music works, all of Weinberg’s six sonatas for violin and piano as well as the three sonatas for solo violin will be played, including by Linus Roth himself.
Linus Roth has played as a soloist with many leading orchestras including the Stuttgart State Opera Orchestra, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn, the German Radio Symphony Orchestras of broadcasters SWR and Berlin, the Orquesta de Cordoba, the Orchestra della Toscana in Florence, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Philharmonic, the Bern Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra del Teatro San Carlo in Naples, the Cologne Chamber Orchestra and the Bruckner Orchester Linz. Conductors with whom Roth has worked include Gerd Albrecht, Frank Beermann, Herbert Blomstedt, Andrey Boreyko, Finnegan Downie Dear, Dennis Russell Davies, Kevin John Edusei, Dan Ettinger, James Gaffigan, Hartmut Haenchen, Domonkos Héja, Antony Hermus, Manfred Honeck, Kirill Karabits, Isaac Karabtchevsky, Mihkel Kütson, Leo McFall, Thomas Sanderling, Konstantin Trinks, and Antoni Wit.
A passionate chamber musician, he has performed fellow musicians such as Nicolas Altstaedt, Gautier Capuçon, Kim Kashkashian, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Albrecht Mayer, Nils Mönkemeyer, Andreas Ottensamer, Benjamin Schmid, Christian Poltéra, Julian Steckel, Markus Schirmer, Julien Quentin, Jens-Peter Maintz, Florian Uhlig, Itamar Golan and Danjulo Ishizaka, among others. He has also worked closely for several years with the Argentinean pianist José Gallardo.
Linus Roth attended the preparatory class of Prof. Nicolas Chumachenco at the Musikhochschule in Freiburg, Germany, before going on to study with Prof. Zakhar Bron. Subsequently, he pursued his studies for several years with Prof. Ana Chumachenco at the Universities of Music in Zurich and Munich. Salvatore Accardo, Miriam Fried and Josef Rissin have also been important influences on him. During his studies, Linus Roth held a scholarship from the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation.
In October 2012, Linus Roth was appointed Professor of Violin at the 'Leopold-Mozart-Zentrum' at Augsburg University and is also the artistic director of the Leopold Mozart International Violin Competition in Augsburg. In addition, Linus Roth is the Founder and Artistic Director of the International Festival Ibiza Concerts and from 2020 on of the music festival Schwäbischer Frühling in Ochsenhausen /Germany Linus Roth plays the Stradivarius violin 'Dancla' from 1703 on kind loan from the music foundation of the L-Bank Baden-Württemberg.
In his free time, Roth enjoys fitness sports of all kinds, travelling, eating out and loves boating around the Mediterranean. He has lived in Munich for many years.

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Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin

Mihkel Kütson (conductor)

Composer(s)

Benjamin Britten

Benjamin Britten is one most important British composers from the second half of the twentieth century. Remarkably, he focused on opera, a dying genre, at least in its current form. Britten's contributions however, among which Peter Grimes, The Rape of Lucretia, Gloriana, The Turn of the Screw, and Death in Venice, managed to remain core repertoire for opera companies to this day. Many of these productions included a role for his artistic partner and life companion Peter Pears. Britten also wrote a number of lieder for this tenor, among which his Serenade for tenor, horn and string orchestra. Yet, Britten excelled in many more genres. He wasn't even 20 years old when he composed his brilliant Phantasy for hobo quartet and his friendship with...

Benjamin Britten is one most important British composers from the second half of the twentieth century. Remarkably, he focused on opera, a dying genre, at least in its current form. Britten's contributions however, among which Peter Grimes, The Rape of Lucretia, Gloriana, The Turn of the Screw, and Death in Venice, managed to remain core repertoire for opera companies to this day. Many of these productions included a role for his artistic partner and life companion Peter Pears. Britten also wrote a number of lieder for this tenor, among which his Serenade for tenor, horn and string orchestra. Yet, Britten excelled in many more genres. He wasn't even 20 years old when he composed his brilliant Phantasy for hobo quartet and his friendship with the legendary cellist Rostropovich led to a Cello sonata, three Suites for cello solo and a Symphony for Cello and orchestra in the 1960s.

Britten never became Master of the Queen's Music, yet he surely had feeling for public sentiments. For example, as a pacifist, he taught his people about world peace through his War Requiem from 1962. Britten was an excellent interpreter of his own work, just like Bartók and Stravinsky. Many of his recordings have been matched, but never exceeded.

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Mieczysław Weinberg

Mieczysław Weinberg was a Russian composer of Polish-Jewish origin. He studied piano at the Conservatory of Warsaw and was soon praised for his musical talent. When the Germans invaded Poland in 1939, Weinberg fled to Russia, first to Minsk and later to Tashkent, where he worked at the opera. There he also met Dmitri Shostakovich, who was impressed by his talent and would become an important influence on his music. Furthermore, he arranged an official invitation to Moscow for Weinberg, where he continued to stay for the rest of his life.
Life under Stalin was not easy for a Jewish composer like Weinberg. His works were not banned by the Soviet authorities, but they were not always well received. Moreover, he had to live in fear of being arrested, which happened to him in 1953. Shostakovich came to his rescue by proving his innocence in a letter to Lavrenti Beria, chief of the secret police. However, it was mainly due to Stalins death that Weinberg was saved.
After Stalins death, Weinberg continued to work on his extensive oeuvre, which consists of amongst others 26 symphonies, seventeen string quartets and more than 40 film scores. The majority of these works were performed by leading Russian musicians and orchestras. Thanks to the increasing amount of recordings, his works become more and more well-known outside of Russia.

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Press

01/12/2016 - Péché de Classique
Péché de Classique, 01-12-2016

5 star***** rating "I could not find any weakness. Highly recommended without any reservation."
HRAudio, 15-3-2016

["].. It's a wonderful piece, and this performance boasts stunning orchestral playing from Ruben Gazarian's Würtemberg forces."
The Art Desk, 19-9-2015

3 stars*** ["].. To coincide with the 70th anniversary of VJ Day, violinist Linus Roth and the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn put together this imaginitive disc of music composed in the Second World War and its immediate aftermath."
Financial Times, 23-8-2015

It was totally in on the strange curiosity and violinist unknown label this home recording curiosity. As a result, playing and recording deeply touched me! Britten "Violin Concerto" is very familiar with and loved my work, never heard of such a profound and wonderful performances, surprise, I discovered another wonderful violin concerto first half of the 20th Century Polish Jewish leaf composer 梅谢斯拉夫 · Weinberg's "Violin Concerto." Such a violinist Linus Roth is worthy of our crazy "speculation" performer, because no matter how "hype" This performer, his soul and blood they are always doomed servants music, music listeners Art Guide, rather than the music and the audience exploiters. Two days ago, I was on the site for later downloading www.nativedsd.com Dutch label Challenge Records company produced 里努斯 Ross (Linus Roth) to play the recorded British composer Britten "Violin Concerto" and the Polish composer梅谢斯拉夫 · Weinberg "Violin Concerto." It was totally in on the strange curiosity and violinist unknown label this home recording curiosity. As a result, playing and recording deeply touched me! Britten "Violin Concerto" is very familiar with and loved my work, never heard of such a profound and wonderful performances, surprise, I discovered another wonderful violin concerto first half of the 20th Century Polish Jewish leaf composer 梅谢斯拉夫 · Weinberg's "Violin Concerto." Artistic music (ie serious music or classical music) in today's crisis is not just that the cultural emptiness created, but also because the lack of players to explore and ideas. Formalist work is superficial virtuoso playing with superficial imagination, out of the "musical" How to have vitality? How can I convince people? So, a lot of contemporary new works, namely the final play premiere is the inevitable result. And those who have been generations of master interpretation and the interpretation of the classic works of hundreds of years have been identical with the boring performance stifle vitality today, and this is the real reason for the classical music listeners in the aging of the failure. Of course, lead to such results are not musicians who recognize this fact, they are immortal life with the classic works of burning their own vanity and fame. Artistic life from real emotions and thinking, and as its immortal life. Commercial speculation the star addition to our seductive and admiration beyond its commercial value, not the art of guards, but not artistic life Reinventors. To save classical music and the musicians are not able to breed grandstanding and greed were the star of profit generation of classical music listeners, but as 里努斯 Ross this culture, ideology and artistic conscience of the pious musician and playing Family. The only way to make classical musicians continue to be a classic live, the only way a player can make the resurrection of the dead outstanding works, the only way a player can make excellent new works survive! Linu Si Ross not to musical genius and musical prodigy started his artistic skills from a strong cultural awareness and love for life and observation, and thus form their own artistic sensitivity and deep thinking. He put the gifts and talents as a tool rather than as a weapon to obtain fame and fortune. Linu Si Ross is a very complete musician type musician, his accomplishments in terms of chamber music is also very high.
weixin.qq.com, 29-7-2015

["].. The album opens with "Concerto funebre" by Karl Amadeus Hartmann, a mournful work in which he sought to present "truth that spreads joy and is connected to grief."
The Independent, 25-7-2015

Best Concerto recording of 2014 - Maestro Kütson and the DSO Berlin musicians retain a significant degree of spontaneity in their realization of the evolving ground bass, and Mr. Roth complements their efforts with playing that combines lightness of touch with robustness of tone.
Voix des Arts, 29-12-2014

One from the ten of the year's most scintillating classical releases - This piece is terrific (...) Wonderful, full-blooded backing.
theartdesk.com, 29-12-2014

["].. The ongoing Weinberg revival received another boost in the form of Linus Roth's gripping traversal of the 1959 Violin Concerto, a dramatic, large scale work dripping with personality and good tunes."
The Art Desk, 26-12-2014

No. 9 of the 10 best classical recordings of 2014
forbes.com, 15-12-2014

One of the recording of the year
Gramophone, 01-12-2014

Linus Roth technical skill is beyond reproach.
Music Web International, 01-8-2014

The disc is recommended for the Weinberg––a work urgently worth getting to know––and for an idiosyncratic but effective rendition of the Britten.
Fanfaremag.com, 01-8-2014

Editor's choice In short, an outstanding disc.
Gramophone, 01-7-2014

Linus Roth with clean phrasing and rhythmical precision
Badische Zeitung, 15-6-2014

"Britten on Roth's disc has never sounded so soft or soul-baring."
ft.com, 13-6-2014

The interpertation of both concertos by Linus Roth is without a doubt sublime
Luister, 01-6-2014

Master-pieces, 5-star
Fono Forum, 01-6-2014

(...) recorded in an exemplary manner. (...) here one can discover beauty and impressive parts.
Tageblatt, 31-5-2014

If any performer can popularise the piece it has to be the phenomenal Linus Roth, whose unflagging energy makes this CD one of the best concerto discs this year. He is marvellous from the off. Unmissable, and recorded in sensational sound too"
theartdesk.com, 24-5-2014

It’s worth getting this recording for the Weinberg concerto alone but with the addition of the Britten it becomes self recommending.
Musicweb International, 01-5-2014

This is a highly desirable release played delightfully by violinist Linus Roth. It's worth getting this recording for the Weinberg concerto alone but with the addition of the Britten it becomes self recommending.
Music Web International, 01-5-2014

"Linus Roth is a mervelous performer, technically and musically. The surround sound is gorgeous." 5/5 stars
Pizzicato Online, 30-4-2014

"Sound tip - a thrilling force drives this concert from the first to the last note. A must for disoverers." Musik 4/5 Sound 4,5/5
Audio, 14-4-2014

Do not Let yourself be put off by the relative obscurity of this repertoire: This is pure enjoyment
Opusklassiek.nl, 07-4-2014

"An unexpected good combination... a release that comes with sensational hifi-sound. Roth's strength is the emotion: induvidual shaping right up to creaking/scratching, an accelerando that takes someones breath, pure excitement - that is Linus Roth. ... cinema at its most."
Crescendo, 01-4-2014

Overall, I cannot fault this recording, particularly the lush sound engineering. I can only hope that this disc can serve as a persuasive case to encourage other violinists to take up both of these works - but especially the Weinberg.
listthathaveescapeddestruction, 25-3-2014

He (Linus Roth) is a Weinberg champion and what acclaim the composer receives after this recording has been out for a few weeks will be largely down to the violinist.
Words&Music, 24-3-2014

"... a powerfull virtuoso composition which the German violinst knows how to savor with decisiviness and creative power."
Dresdener Neuste Nachrichten, 17-3-2014

Performance 5/5 stars Sound 5/5 stars
SA-CD.net, 14-3-2014

"...a sovereign play of Linus Roth and the mellow playing of the Berlin DSO (about Weinberg). ... a convincing new recording of Benjamin Britten's violin concert."
Klassik Newsletter Berlin, 12-3-2014

"... a powerfull virtuoso composition which the German violinst knows how to savor with decisiviness and creative power."
Frankfurter Neue Presse, 11-3-2014

"The liner notes are as ecstatic as Roth's performance...."
Tokafi.com, 11-3-2014

"... a powerfull virtuoso composition which the German violinst knows how to savor with decisiviness and creative power."
Mannheimer Morgen, 03-3-2014

Emotion is Roth's strength
Crescendo, 01-3-2014

"... a powerfull virtuoso composition which the German violinst knows how to savor with decisiviness and creative power."
Leipziger Volkszeitung, 22-2-2014

The talanted young German violinist Linus Roth has taken his music and his legacy to heart in a big way.
Theartsdesk.com, 16-2-2014

"The CD renders fitting exactly the brilliant sound expansion of the solist between a rich-revelling baseline and immensely filigree nuances."
Rheinische Post, 15-2-2014

A quality disc that confirms that Linus Roth is indeed now one of the best violinists of the younger generation.
Crescendo, 06-2-2014

"This time there is a recording with the German violinist Linus Roth. He has recorded the Violin Concerts opus 15 by Benjamin Britten, and opus 67 by Mieczyslaw Weinberg"
www.audiophile.no, 20-12-2013

"This is a highly desirable release played delightfully by violinist Linus Roth."
Music Web International

"What is clear is that this is a major work and one that deserves far greater knowledge."
Music Web International