Janine Jansen has gained a worldwide critical following for her fresh look at the pillars of core violin repertoire and her intense and lyrical approach to the music. After her successful Vivaldi Four Seasons recording,... more » Jansen presents her first major concerto album. This recording, conducted by Riccardo Chailly, has strong historical and musical connections--the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchester was conducted by Mendelssohn for many years and the group premiered his concerto in 1844. This recording also presents a real discovery, the Bruch's Romance for Viola & Orchestra, recorded on disc on viola for the first time.« less
Janine Jansen has gained a worldwide critical following for her fresh look at the pillars of core violin repertoire and her intense and lyrical approach to the music. After her successful Vivaldi Four Seasons recording, Jansen presents her first major concerto album. This recording, conducted by Riccardo Chailly, has strong historical and musical connections--the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchester was conducted by Mendelssohn for many years and the group premiered his concerto in 1844. This recording also presents a real discovery, the Bruch's Romance for Viola & Orchestra, recorded on disc on viola for the first time.
CD Reviews
Absolutely refreshing and breathtaking
Yu Suo | Washington, DC USA | 02/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Janine Jansen first caught my ears when I heard her play the Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso on the radio. I remember thinking: "Wow, who played this? I have to find out when I get home."
Since then, I have acquired her Four Seasons recording which has completely redefined the old classic for me. Perhaps it's not as "faithful" as some of the other recordings out there, but it is Janine Jansen's fresh energy and lively interpretation that really gives her playing the uniqueness that words cannot describe.
When I saw her new album featuring my favorite violin concerto, the Mendelssohn, I was immediately tempted to buy it. But as I already own more than 10 recordings of it, I decided to not waste my money on yet another contemporary artist. However, when I heard a high quality sample on iTunes of her Mendelssohn and Bruch, I just COULD NOT prevent myself from buying it.
What makes her recording so attractive are the small but noticeable details in interpretation that truly sets these pieces apart from the hundreds of other recordings. I'm not saying that it's necessarily "better" or "worse" than recordings from Heifetz, Milstein, Oistrach, Menuhin, Perlman, and etc. but Janine Jansen has 100% captured my heart with these superb renditions. Her playing in the final movements of these two concertos are so good that I would not hesitate to make this CD my new first recommendation for those who do not own the Mendelssohn or Bruch violin concertos.
This has by far been my most satisfying CD purchase in a year and will be at the top of my collection :)"
Splendid Performances of Mendelssohn and Bruch Pieces from J
John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 03/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Janine Jansen is yet another young violinist I've heard of, but haven't had the pleasure of hearing before. She must be regarded as among the best soloists of her generation, based on the superb technical and lyrical sides to her playing, which reminds me of Hilary Hahn's and Joshua Bell's. Her performance of the Mendelssohn violin concerto is one of the most lyrical I have come across, with a vivid, intense lyricism to it that reminds me so much of Bell's recent recording. I am equally impressed too with her splendid playing of the Bruch violin concerto, especially her fiery, lyrical playing of the second and third movements. I must concur with others who've remarked that her performance of the Bruch romance for viola and orchestra is quite special too, and for many, will be the best reason to purchase this CD. For me another strong reason is to hear the fantastic playing of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, which has experienced an artistic "re-birth" under the skillful guidance of its newest music director, distinguished Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly, transforming it once more into one of Europe's ten best orchestras. Decca's sound engineers have done a superlative job in producing a well-balanced recording emphasizing both Ms. Jansen's exemplary lyrical playing, and the lush, warm vibrant playing of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. While this fine CD may not be my primary recommendation for the Mendelssohn and Bruch pieces, it still earns high praise from me, and for some fellow classical music fans may be the best recordings of these works that they've heard. Indeed, I look forward to hearing other recordings made by this fine young Dutch violinist, who clearly has a promising future awaiting her."
Genuinely New; Wholly Her Own
Rumbachulo | Ithaca, NY USA | 11/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Frankly, were it not for U-Tube I wouldn't know anything about this artist or this album; after all, there are enough existing recordings of these two concerti to last anyone a lifetime, let alone each promise of "new ones" only seem to be marketing ploys to parade the highly competent though thoroughly unimaginative product of the modern, global conservatory system. This one, however, is indeed an exception.
Jansen's sound is robust, her technique and approach are fine examples of innovation and progression in 21st century violin playing. Her interpretations are fresh, and her sensitivity and approach vibrant, multivalent and so alive they force one to rethink everything one knows about these two concerti. Most intriguingly, Jansen has captured performances intelligent and well informed enough to compel one to dust off and revisit every version in one's collection and "discover" new things about these works all over again.
"
Mendelssohn & Bruch V Ctos = warhorses? Not w vital, fresh,
Dan Fee | Berkeley, CA USA | 08/11/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Janine Jansen is making the young adult transition that has to happen as we grow up. In her case, from child prodigy - she played the Bruch first with a youth orchestra at twelve years old in her home country of The Netherlands - to working professional musician. World class, by all accounts, and by the evidence of this disc, too.
Her super audio disc of the Vivaldi Four Seasons persuaded me strongly enough that I started giving out multiple copies as gifts to friends who somehow did not yet have a Four Seasons gracing their music shelves. And that in a crowded music factory warehouse catalogue of very, very, very good performances.
Now Ms Jansen turns her attentions to the nearly trite disc coupling of Mendelssohn's mature violin concerto and the first Bruch. Yawn?
I think not.
First off, note that she is playing the Barrere Strad of 1727, as well as a Guadagnini viola (1780) on loan for the interspersed Bruch viola Romance deftly tucked in the middle of her concert, between the two chestnut standards. You do not get loaned these sorts of stringed instruments unless you know how to handle them, and then some. Just knowing what she has on loan encourages us to open up to the possibilities, she just well may be the real deal, fiddle-wise.
Now my favs in Mendelssohn-Bruch couplings have included Gil Shaham, Ithzak Perlman, and Davis Oistrakh. Well, better to recall Henryk Szeryng. Ms Jansen has that sort of silvery, platinum dancing tone from high to low registers. She has no need to overpower the orchestra going full tilt, but instead manages to float angelically on top of the musical textures. This sort of playing gets under-rated, just as some listeners under-rated Szeryng, because such fiddlers do not need to force their way through, and because such fiddlers typically make the whole effort seem way too easy.
Imagine the growing cross-generational crop of fine women fiddlers we are getting these days. Ginette Neveau blazed a green and thriving trail indeed, early in the past century - if these young women are any indications. Anne Sophie Mutter broke through. Then Kyung Wha Chung. Then Viktoria Mullova. Anne Akiko Meyers. Then suddenly Hilary Hahn, Lara St. John, Leila Josefowitz, and of course, the redoubtable Julia Fisher.
If ever we needed tangible musical evidence that equal opportunity musicianship is natural, the mystical cosmological ways of things with a flourish, these fiddlers are high, bright signs.
Oh yes, by all means, get the Mendelssohn and the first Bruch by whomever your fav fiddler happens to be. You probably cannot go wrong. But when you get around to adding to that top choice recording, do be sure to consider this one with Ms. Jansen. Her way with the Strad is not labored, pedestrian, or boring. Oh no. And that less often recorded viola Romance comes along to add its own special touches. Old Max Bruch is sounding less and less like a dusty museum case display, such glinting lights afire do these readings yield. Reconsider Max Bruch, then. And yes, Mendelssohn is still eternally poised, Olympian, unsullied.
Keep your ears open for more. Highly recommended. Five stars."
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1